BX~6248  .N5  L48  1869 
Levy,  Edgar  Mortimer ,  b. 

1822. 
History  of  the  Newark 

Baptist  City  Mission 


OLD   FIRST   BAPTIST    CHURCH 


HISTORY 


Jletoark  Baptist  City  jmtsston 

FROM   ITS   ORIGIN   IN    185 1 

TO    ITS 

SEVENTEENTH   ANNIVERSARY   IN    1868. 


REV.    EDGAR    M.    LEVY,    D.  D. 


PUBLISHED    WITH   THE   AUTHORITY   OF  THE    BOARD. 


NEW   YORK: 

PUBLISHED   BY    HURD   AND    HOUGHTON 

<£aml)vttjflc:  3£libcrsitic  JJvrss. 

1869. 


M 


w 


CONTENTS. 


PART    I. 

PAGE 

Origin 5 


PART  II. 

Plan  of  Operations 9 

PART   III. 

Early  Efforts 19 

PART   IV. 

Organization  of  Churches 27 

The  North  Baptist  Church 27 

The  Fifth  Baptist  Church 37 

Fairmount  Baptist  Church 49 

Mount  Pleasant  Baptist  Church       .        .        .  57 

The  Pilgrim  Baptist  Church 63 

PART  V. 

German  Church  and  Mission 71 

The  First  German  Baptist  Church   .        .        .  71 

The  Twelfth  Ward  Mission 79 


IV 


'    CONTENTS. 


PART  VI. 

Sketches  of  First  and  South  Churches     . 
First  Baptist  Church    .... 
History  of  the  South  Baptist  Church 


PAGE 

85 
85 
113 


PART  VII. 


Growth  from  Effort 


133 


THE  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION 


OF 

NEWARK,   NEW   JERSEY. 

♦ 

$art   fit$t. 

ORIGIN. 

A  nameless  man  amid  a  crowd 

That  thronged  the  daily  mart, 
Let  fall  the  words  of  hope  and  love, 

Unstudied  from  the  heart. 
A  whisper  on  the  tumult  thrown, 

A  transitory  breath, — 
It  raised  a  brother  from  the  dust, 

It  saved  a  soul  from  death. 
O  germ !     O  fount !     O  word  of  love  ! 

O  thought  at  random  cast ! 
Ye  were  but  little  at  the  first, 

But  mighty  at  the  last" 

OME  of  the  most  important  and 

beneficent  enterprises,  both  in  the 

world   and   in   the  Church,  have 

had  their  origin  in  what  appeared 

an  accidental,  but  what  proved  to  be  a  provi- 


6  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

dential,  suggestion  of  the  human  mind.  It 
was  so  in  the  origin  of  the  Sunday-school 
work,  by  Robert  Raikes  ;  it  was  so  in  the 
origin  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  and  of  the  English  Baptist  Mis- 
sionary Society.  Results  of  infinite  moment 
lie  hidden  in  a  passing  thought,  or  in  a 
simple  suggestion.  This  fact  is  illustrated 
in  the  origin  of  the  Newark  Baptist  City 
Mission. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  185 1,  the 
pastors  of  the  First  and  South  churches1 
were  one  day  walking  arm  in  arm,  on 
Washington  Street,  when  the  former  said 
to  the  latter,  "  I  will  tell  you  what  I  have 
been  thinking  about." 

"  And  what  is  it,  pray  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  thinking,"  said  he,  "  that  we 
ought  to  be  planting  some  new  churches  in 
this  growing  city." 

"  It  is  a  good  thought,"  was  the  prompt 
reply  ;   "  it  ought  to  be  done." 

Thus  the  conversation  went  on,  till  they 

1  Rev.  H.  C.  Fish,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  William  Hague,  D.  D. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  J 

were  about  to  part,  when  it  was  agreed  to 
speak  to  some  of  the  leading  brethren  in 
each  church,  and  get  them  together  in  the 
private  parlor  of  Mr.  John  M.  Davies,  a 
member  of  the  South  Baptist  Church. 

Accordingly,  on  the  evening  of  Decem- 
ber ist,  of  the  above  year,  some  ten  or 
twelve  persons  met  at  the  place  designated, 
for  consultation  and  prayer.  At  this  meet- 
ing, the  religious  condition  of  the  city,  the 
demands  of  a  constantly  augmenting  popu- 
lation, and  the  capabilities  and  duties  of  the 
Baptist  denomination  in  Newark,  were  sub- 
jects of  solemn  and  earnest  consideration. 
The  result  was,  that  the  following  resolution 
was  passed :  — 

u  Resolved :  That  in  the  providence  of  God,  there  is 
a  wide  field  for  missionary  labor  in  our  city,  and  mo- 
tives for  its  prosecution  that  should  quicken  us  to 
renewed  diligence  and  holy  consecration." 

It  was  also  deemed  desirable  to  employ 
immediately  a  missionary,  and  to  open  two 
places  for  preaching  —  one  in  the  North 
Ward  and  another  in  the  Fifth  Ward,  and 


8  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

liberal  pledges  were  made  for  that  purpose. 
A  public  meeting  was  arranged  for,  in  or- 
der to  secure  the  action  of  the  whole  de- 
nomination. 

At  this  meeting,  held  in  the  First  Church, 
December  7,  1851,  an  interest  in  behalf  of 
the  enterprise  was  manifested  by  the  spon- 
taneous contribution  of  additional  sums, 
amounting  to  more  than  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. A  plan  of  action  was  also  adopted,  by 
which  each  church  was  to  elect  six  members, 
including  its  pastor,  who  should  constitute  a 
Board  to  direct  the  affairs  of  the  Mission. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  delegates  ap- 
pointed to  constitute  this  Board,  was  held 
on  the  evening  of  January  21st,  1852,  in 
the  lecture-room  of  the  First  Church.  It 
was  composed  of  the  following  persons:  H. 
C.  Fish,  William  Hague,  David  Jones,  Lewis 
Nichols,  John  Compton,  Samuel  Mason,  Sr., 
John  Manning,  Robert  Johnston,  John  M. 
Davies,  Daniel  C.  Whitman,  Daniel  M.  Wil- 
son. The  Board  was  then  formally  organ- 
ized by  the  election  of  proper  officers. 


5?art  £rconti* 

PLAN    OF    OPERATIONS. 

^EFORE  proceeding  to  speak  of 
the  organization  and  support  of 
churches,  a  few  words  of  explana- 
tion may  be  necessary,  in  order 
that  the  constitution  of  the  Board  and  the 
mode  of  operations  may  be  clearly  under- 
stood. 

I.  The  Board  has  a  legal  existence.  For 
some  years  its  operations  were  prosecuted 
in  a  very  limited  and  simple  manner.  But 
in  the  course  of  time  mission  property 
accumulated,  and  deeds  of  land  for  chapels 
and  church  edifices  had  to  be  secured.  It 
was  found  necessary  for  the  Board  to  be  an 
incorporated  body  in  order  to  hold  prop- 
erty by  law.  The  following  act  of  incor- 
poration was  granted  by  the  Legislature  in 
1861  :  — 


IO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

STATE    OF    NEW   JERSEY. 

An  Act  to  i?icorporate  the  Baptist  City  Mission. 

i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  Ge?ieral  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  That  Henry  C  Fish,  Daniel 
M.  Wilson,  Edgar  M.  Levy,  Joseph  O.  Nichols,  Robert 
Atkinson,  Ebenezer  Tingley,  David  T.  Morrill,  Joseph 
Morris,  Charles  W.  Clarke,  Daniel  C.  Whitman,  and 
Conrad  Bordenbender,  and  their  successors,  being 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  be  and  they  are  hereby 
constituted  a  body  corporate,  by  the  name  of  the  Bap- 
tist City  Mission,  and  by  that  name  shall  have  per- 
petual succession,  and  exercise  and  be  clothed  with  the 
powers  and  privileges  enumerated  in  the  first  section 
of  the  act  entitled  "  An  Act  concerning  Corporations," 
approved  February  fourteenth,  eighteen  hundred  and 
forty-six,  and  shall  be  capable  of  holding,  taking,  and 
receiving  by  purchase,  gift,  grant,  devise,  bequest,  or 
otherwise,  and  of  conveying,  mortgaging,  and  granting 
all  such  property  and  estate,  real,  personal,  and  mixed, 
which  may  be  necessary  or  proper  for  the  purposes 
and  objects  of  the  corporation,  provided,  that  the  yearly 
value  of  the  property  which  said  corporation  shall  at 
any  one  time  hold  or  own  shall  not  exceed  Fifty  Thou- 
sand Dollars. 

2.  And  be  it  enacted,  That  the  objects  of  said  corpor- 
ation shall  be  the  furtherance  and  promotion  of  the 
interests  of  the  Baptist  denomination  of  Christians  in 
the  City  of  Newark,  in  this  State,  and  its  immediate 
vicinity. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  I 

3.  And  be  it  enacted,  That  the  management  of  the 
affairs  and  concerns  of  said  corporation  shall  be  and  is 
vested  in  eleven  or  more  trustees,  as  the  by-laws  may 
direct,  who  shall  be  citizens  of  the  said  city  of  Newark, 
or  its  vicinity,  and  members  of  the  said  denomination 
of  Christians  (the  persons  named  in  the  first  section  of 
this  act  to  be  the  first  trustees),  a  majority  of  whom 
shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  busi- 
ness ;  they  shall  be  annually  elected,  and  shall  hold 
their  first  meeting  at  the  call  of  said  first  trustees,  and 
shall  appoint  a  president,  secretary,  and  such  other 
officer  and  officers  as  they  may  deem  necessary. 

4.  And  be  it  enacted,  That  the  trustees  may  provide 
by-laws  to  determine  the  number  of  said  trustees  to  be 
annually  elected  ;  to  provide  for  the  election  or  appoint- 
ment for  their  holding  over  in  case  the  regular  annual 
election  should  not  take  place  and  provide  for  filling 
vacancies,  etc. 

5.  And  be  it  enacted,  That  this  act  shall  take  effect 
immediately. 

II.  The  members  of  the  Board,  or,  ac- 
cording to  the  charter,  the  Trustees,  consist 
of  the  pastor  and  four  other  members  of 
each  church,  who  are  elected  by  the  churches 
in  April  of  each  year.1 

1  Missions  not  organized  into  churches  have  the  privilege  of 
being  represented  by  their  missionary  and  one  delegate,  who  may 
participate  in  the  proceedings,  but  are  not  entitled  to  vote. 


12  HISTORY  OF   THE  NEWARK 

III.  All  the  members  of  the  Baptist 
churches  of  Newark  are  members  of  the 
City  Mission.  They  are  entitled  to  vote  in 
their  respective  churches  for  those  who  are 
to  represent  them  in  the  Board.  They 
also  have  the  privilege  of  organizing  the 
anniversary  meetings  by  the  election  of  a 
Chairman  and  a  Secretary ;  approving  or 
otherwise  the  reports  of  the  Board,  and 
may  give  instructions  to  the  same.  They 
are  likewise  expected  to  contribute  towards 
the  object  of  the  City  Mission,  each  one 
doing  something.  Particular  attention  is 
given  to  interest  every  member,  old  and 
young,  in  this  work  of  the  extension  of  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom. 

IV.  The  Board  meets  on  the  last  Mon- 
day evening  of  each  month.  The  monthly 
meetings  are  conducted  according  to  the 
following  order :  First,  devotional  services  ; 
second,  calling  the  roll ;  *  third,  reading  of 
minutes ;  fourth,  treasurer's  report ;  fifth, 
receipts  of  money  from  the  collectors  ;  sixth, 

1  Members  not  present  at  roll-call  are  fined  twenty-five  cents, 
unless  detained  by  sickness  or  absence  from  the  city. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  3 

reports  of  committees  ;  seventh,  reports  from 
the  Missions ;  eighth,  miscellaneous  busi- 
ness ;  ninth,  devotional  exercises  and  ad- 
journment. 

V.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  new  Board 
each  year,  one  of  the  delegates  from  each 
church  is  appointed  a  collector  for  the 
church  which  he  represents.  It  is  his  duty 
to  keep  a  book  and  secure  an  annual  con- 
tribution, if  possible,  from  every  member  of 
said  church.  He  reports  to  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Board  at  each  monthly  meeting. 

VI.  The  pastors  and  missionaries  are  ex- 
pected to  preach  on  the  subject  of  city  mis- 
sions, and  otherwise  direct  attention  to  the 
work  of  the  Board,  on  the  morning  of  the 
Anniversary  Sabbath  of  each  year.  Sub- 
scription papers  are  then  circulated  through 
the  congregation,  to  relieve,  if  possible,  the 
collector  from  the  labor  of  a  personal  appli- 
cation. Payments  of  subscriptions  may 
be  made  to  the  collector,  annually,  quar- 
terly, or  monthly,  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
subscriber. 


14 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 


VII.  An  annual  and  a  semi-annual  meet- 
ing of  the  City  Mission  are  held.  The 
annual  meeting  occurs  on  the  second  Sab- 
bath in  April,  and  the  semi-annual  on  the 
second  Sabbath  in  October. 

These  meetings,  of  late,  have  been  held 
in  the  edifice  of  the  First  Baptist  Church; 
the  capacity  of  the  house  and  its  central 
location,  making  it  all  that  could  be  desired 
for  the  gathering  of  the  churches  and  the 
greeting  of  the  Baptist  Brotherhood. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  April,  it  is  the 
custom  of  the  Sabbath-schools  of  all  the 
churches  and  all  the  missions  to  proceed  in 
a  body  to  the  First  Church.  The  spacious 
galleries,  and  a  part  of  the  main  body  of  the 
house,  are  usually  filled  with  the  children 
and  their  teachers,  the  remainder  of  the 
sanctuary  being  crowded  with  an  attentive 
audience.  It  is  impossible  to  give  an  ade- 
quate description  of  the  beautiful  sight  pre- 
sented at  these  annual  meetings,  or  of  the 
effect  produced  on  the  heart  by  all  the  chil- 
dren uniting  to   fill  the  house  of  the  Lord 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  5 

with  their  songs  of  praise.  Memorable, 
indeed,  are  those  occasions,  when  the  vigor 
of  health,  and  the  experience  of  age,  and 
the  flower  of  youth,  and  the  fervor  of  piety, 
are  found  in  beautiful  combination,  every 
one  rejoicing  in  the  success  of  the  past  and 
praying  and  planning  for  the  work  of  the 
future. 

VIII.  The  principal  aim  of  the  Mission 
is  to  encourage  the  organization  of  Sunday- 
schools,  and  to  provide  a  preached  gospel 
for  the  destitute  in  the  growing  sections 
of  the  city.  The  Board  does  not  primarily 
propose  to  purchase  lots  and  build  meet- 
ing-houses. The  usual  course  is  to  open 
schools  and  send  forth  missionaries,  and 
leave  the  question  of  building  chapels  and 
the  organization  of  churches  to  be  developed 
by  the  success  of  the  missions.  The  prin- 
ciple has  been  to  follow,  and  not  to  precede, 
the  guidance  of  Providence. 

IX.  It  has  also  been  a  chief  aim  to  pre- 
serve in  the  denomination  in  the  city,  "  the 
unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace." 


I  6  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

And  this  result  has  been  happily  realized. 
Like  a  generous,  faithful,  loving  mother, 
the  Mission  has  given  to  the  new  interests 
support,  sympathy,  and  unwearied  care. 
Like  the  eagle,  she  has  borne  them  on  her 
wings  until  they  were  able  to  go  forth  alone. 
Every  month  the  missionary  or  pastor  has 
come  to  the  Board  with  a  statement  of  the 
wants,  the  trials,  the  joys,  or  the  sorrows  of 
his  particular  charge.  Here  he  has  always 
found  sympathy.  Advice  has  been  kindly 
given.  Material  aid  has  been  generously 
voted,  and  sometimes  special  prayer  has 
been  offered  that  God  would  interpose,  and 
do  that  which  His  own  cause  required,  and 
which  was  beyond  human  power  to  accom- 
plish. 

The  influence  of  these  monthly  meet- 
ings cannot  be  over-estimated.  They  have 
kept  the  channel  of  sympathy  between  the 
churches  free  from  obstruction.  They 
have  checked  the  growth  of  selfishness,  by 
opening  fields  of  usefulness  in  which  all 
have  been  called  to  work.     They  have  cul- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  \  7 

tivated  unity  and  harmony  among  the 
churches,  by  affording  opportunities  of  fre- 
quent intercourse  with  each  other  for 
Christian  consultation  and  prayer.  Here, 
in  these  monthly  meetings,  the  members  of 
the  Board  have  grasped  each  others  hands, 
as  messengers  of  the  churches,  in  fraternal 
love.  Here  they  have  united  in  aggressive 
movements  against  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness. Here  they  have  proved  to  be  "  the 
helpers  of  each  other's  joys,"  and  the  bearers 
of  each  other's  burdens  in  fulfillment  of  the 
law  of  Christ. 

The  moral  power  of  such  a  union  of  the 
churches  could  not  fail  of  producing  the 
greatest  possible  amount  of  good.  And  its 
sweet  spirit  has  often  recalled  the  words  of 
the  Psalmist :  "  Behold,  how  good  and  how 
pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together 
in  unity!  //  is  like  the  precious  ointment 
upon  the  head,  that  ran  down  upon  the 
beard,  even  Aaron's  beard  :  that  went  down 
to  the  skirts  of  his  garments  ;  as  the  dew  of 
Hermon,  and  as  the  dew  that  descended  upon 


I  8  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

the  mountains  of  Zion :  for  there  the  Lord 
commanded  the  blessing,  even  life  for  ever- 
more." 

We  may  add,  what  lover  of  Zion  has  not 
had  occasion  to  deplore  the  absence  of  such 
unity  in  our  chief  cities.  Too  often  the 
constitution  of  churches  results  from  un- 
happy divisions,  or  in  some  spirit  that  is  not 
in  accordance  with  that  of  the  gospel.  And 
too  often  the  wealth  and  talent  of  the  de- 
nomination has  been  concentrated  and  un- 
developed in  a  single  inert  and  overgrown 
body. 

It  is,  perhaps,  not  too-  much  to  say,  that 
could  an  unity  like  that  realized  in  our  city, 
be  attained  in  other  places,  the  strength  of 
the  denomination  in  those  localities  would 
be  increased  ten  fold. 


m 


^ 


$att  €{prb* 

EARLY    EFFORTS. 

HE  first  act  of  the  Board  was  to 
obtain  a  proper  person  to  fill  the 
position  of  missionary.  Rev.  C. 
W.  Waterhouse  was  selected,  who 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  mission  in 
April,  1852.  Regular  services  were  estab- 
lished at  ic4  a.  m.,  in  the  third-story  room 
of  a  store  No.  [02  Broad  Street,  and  in 
Humanity  Hall,  in  the  Fifth  Ward,  at  3  p.  m. 
Sabbath-schools  were  commenced  at  both 
stations.  At  first,  the  number  who  met  on 
the  Sabbath  for  religious  instruction  and 
worship  was  very  small.  As  the  Board, 
however,  provided  better  accommodations, 
the  attendance,  .both  of  the  congregations 
and  the  Sabbath-schools,  increased  rapidly, 
while  the  missions  grew  in  influence  and 
usefulness. 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

Under  the  severe  labors  necessarily  de- 
manded by  the  cultivation  of  both  these 
missions,  situated  in  opposite  parts  of  the 
city,  the  health  of  the  missionary,  Mr. 
Waterhouse,  became  so  seriously  impaired 
as  to  compel  him  to  cease  altogether  from 
this  service.  On  accepting  his  resignation, 
the  Board  caused  the  following  to  be  re- 
corded in  the  minutes  : 

"  The  Board  would  at  this  time  bear  testimony  to 
brother  Waterhouse's  self-sacrificing  labors,  his  fervent 
prayers,  his  consistent,  devoted  life  in  the  cause  of  his 
Master,  and  his  zeal  for  the  Mission." 

The  work  of  this  first  missionary  was  that 
of  the  sower  rather  than  of  the  reaper ;  but 
the  seed  planted  under  much  discourage- 
ment has  since  borne  fruit. 

The  Board  called  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Wright 
to  be  his  successor;  and  in  April,  1853,  he 
entered  upon  his  missionary  labors. 

A  chapel  in  the  North  Ward  having 
been  completed,  mainly  through  the  liber- 
ality of  Messrs.  D.  M.  Wilson  and  John  M. 
Davies,  the  missionary  was  directed  to  give 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  2  I 

the  chief  part  of  his  time  to  that  field,  the 
Board  regarding  it  as  the  more  promising. 
He  preached,  however,  every  Sunday  after- 
noon in  the  Fifth  Ward. 

It  was  soon  determined  to  employ  anoth- 
er missionary.  Accordingly,  in  October, 
1853,  David  T.  Morrill,  a  member  of  the 
Church  at  Rahway,  and  a  graduate  of  the 
Rochester  Theological  Seminary,  was  in- 
vited to  spend  a  Sunday  in  Newark.  After 
preaching  in  the  First  and  South  Churches, 
he  was  elected  by  the  Board  as  missionary 
for  the  Fifth  Ward. 

Mr.  Morrill  began  his  mission  work  the 
first  Sabbath  in  November,  1853.  The  pul- 
pit of  the  South  Church  becoming  vacant 
by  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Hague,  Mr.  Mor- 
rill, by  the  request  of  the  Church  and  the 
consent  of  the  Board,  preached  there  for  a 
time,  on  the  Sabbath,  and  prosecuted  his 
mission  work  during  the  wTeek. 

Under  the  faithful  labors  of  the  mission- 
aries, the  instructions  of  devoted  teachers 
in  the   Sabbath-schools,  and    the  prayerful 


2  2  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

and  cheerful  expenditure  of  the  Lord's 
money,  the  cause  of  City  Missions  con- 
tinued to  bring  forth  fruit.  Frequent  re- 
vivals were  enjoyed,  and  many,  from  time 
to  time,  were  converted.  These  were  added 
by  baptism  to  the  First  and  South  churches. 
As  these  were  the  only  two  churches  in  the 
city  at  this  time,  there  was  no  other  way  of 
gathering  in  those  who  were  converted  in 
the  mission  fields.  The  idea  entertained  by 
the  Board  at  first  was,  to  organize  Sunday- 
schools,  and  hold  prayer-meetings,  and  af- 
ford opportunities  for  hearing  the  gospel  to 
those  who  lived  in  destitute  parts  of  the 
city.  It  was  not  the  intention  to  favor  the 
constitution  of  churches  until  there  was  a 
sufficient  number  gathered  in  these  mis- 
sions to  insure  their  permanency.  Upon  this 
theory,  however,  the  missionaries  worked 
under  a  great  disadvantage.  They  were 
not  able  to  retain  in  the  mission  as  active 
workers  those  who  had  been  converted.  A 
wiser  course  was  afterwards  adopted.  As 
soon  as  practicable  churches  were  organized, 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  23 

and  the  converts  were  baptized  by  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  became  identified  with  the 
mission  churches.  This  was  found  by  ex- 
perience to  greatly  facilitate  the  procuring 
of  houses  of  worship,  and  the  usefulness  of 
the  missionaries. 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  that  great  care  has 
always  been  taken  by  the  Board  in  encour- 
aging the  organization  of  the  churches. 
Not  until  the  working  force  in  any  mis- 
sion has  given  promise  of  success,  and  the 
Board,  having  counted  the  cost,  has  been 
prepared  to  furnish  the  necessary  means  so 
long  as  the  church  should  require  help,  has 
an  organization  been  favored.  In  this  way, 
immature  constitutions  of  churches,  and 
those  failures  and  disorganizations  which 
have  so  often  discouraged  and  grieved  the 
denomination  in  other  places,  have  been 
avoided. 

The  reproof  which  the  Saviour  admin- 
istered to  the  man  who  commenced  to  build 
without  counting  the  cost,  is  applicable  to 
the  organization   of  churches.     It  is  wiser 


24  NE  WA RK  BA  PTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

to  wait  years  in  laying  the  foundations  se- 
curely, rather  than  to  hazard  a  failure  by  an 
indiscreet  and  hasty  movement.  And  yet 
too  much  caution,  which  may  amount  to 
timidity  and  weakness,  must  be  avoided,  lest 
the  hearts  of  those  who  are  laboring  in  the 
mission  field  should  be  discouraged  by  the 
impression  that  the  cause  will  never  rise  to 
the  dignity  and  responsibility  of  an  inde- 
pendent church. 

The  Board  has  used  great  wisdom  here  ; 
and  so  far  no  mission  has  been  allowed  to 
surfer  from  unnecessary  delay,  nor  has  any 
church,  after  its  organization,  been  permitted 
to  languish  and  expire  for  the  want  of 
support. 


NORTH   BAPTIST  CHURCH. 


Jpart  f  ourtfj* 

ORGANIZATION  OF  CHURCHES. 

— ♦ — 

THE    NORTH     BAPTIST    CHURCH. 
Constituted  July  26,   1854. 

HE  mission  in  the  North  Ward, 
under  the  fostering  care  of  the 
Board,  and  the  labors  of  the  mis- 
sionary, Rev.  T.  G.  Wright,  had 
grown  to  such  an  extent  within  the  two 
years  of  its  existence,  that  the  subject  of 
organizing  a  church  began  to  be  seriously 
considered.  At  a  meeting  held  in  the 
chapel,  June  n,  1854,  Mr.  H.  M.  Baldwin, 
of  the  South  Church,  moderator,  the  follow- 
ing resolution  was  adopted  :  — 

"Resolved,  That  the  time  has  come  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  regular  Baptist  Church  in  the  field  now  occu- 
pied by  our  mission  station  connected  with  the  North 
Baptist  Chapel  in  Orange  Street." 


2  8  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

This  resolution  was  duly  considered  by 
the  Board,  and  being  approved,  measures 
were  immediately  taken  to  organize  a 
church.  A  council,  composed  of  delegates 
from  the  churches  of  Piscatavvay,  Orange, 
Plainfield,  Bloomfleld,  Scotch  Plains,  Lyons 
Farms,  Elizabeth,  Jersey  City,  Hoboken, 
First  and  South  Newark,  met  in  the  chapel, 
July  26,  1854.  This  council  unanimously 
agreed  to  recognize  the  body  as  a  regular 
Baptist  Church  under  the  name  of  the 
"  North  Baptist  Church."  The  number  of 
constituent  members  was  forty-nine. 

Public  services  of  recognition  were  held 
the  same  evening,  when  Rev.  O.  S.  Stearns, 
pastor  of  the  South  Church,  preached  the 
Sermon  ;  Rev.  H.  C.  Fish,  pastor  of  the 
First.  Church,  gave  the  Hand  of  Fellow- 
ship ;  and  Rev.  S.  J.  Drake,  of  Plainfield, 
the  Charge. 

Upon  the  succeeding  Sabbath,  July  30, 
the  first  member  was  admitted  to  the  new 
church  by  baptism.  In  August,  1854,  Rev. 
Mr.   Wright,   after   performing   much    mis- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  29 

sionary  labor,  with  fidelity  and  zeal,  re- 
signed his  connection  with  the  Board.  The 
Church,  with  the  advice  of  the  Board,  ex- 
tended a  unanimous  call  to  the  Rev.  Levi 
Morse,  to  become  their  pastor.  Nine  hun- 
dred dollars  were  appropriated  towards  his 
support. 

After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  four  years, 
during  which  time  ninety-three  were  added 
to  the  Church,  Mr.  Morse  resigned. 

During  the  time  of  their  destitution,  the 
Church,  through  their  delegates,  were  in 
frequent  consultation  with  the  Board,  and 
prayer  was  more  than  once  offered  at  the 
monthly  meeting,  that  God  would  direct  in 
the  choice  of  a  pastor. 

May  10,  1858,  the  Church  extended  a  call 
to  Robert  Atkinson,  a  licentiate  of  Fifth 
Church,  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Atkinson  ac- 
cepted the  call,  and  was  ordained  to  the 
work  of  the  Christian  ministry,  September 
1,  1858,  in  the  First  Baptist  Church.  Soon 
after  his  settlement,  the  presence  and  power 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  became  manifest  in  the 


30  HISTORY   OF    THE    NEWARK 

meetings,  and  a  season  of  extensive  revival 
was  enjoyed. 

At  a  meeting  held  March  2,  1859,  the 
Church  resolved  to  enter  at  once  upon  the 
work  of  securing  a  more  commodious  house 
of  worship.  The  little  chapel,  with  which 
so  many  hallowed  memories  clustered,  was 
no  longer,  either  in  capacity  or  convenience, 
suitable  to  the  growing  demands  of  the 
community  in  which  it  had  been  placed. 

The  Board  was  consulted.  All  the  mem- 
bers felt  the  necessity  of  cooperating  in  the 
movement  proposed.  But  at  this  time  the 
denomination  was  engaged  in  assisting  the 
First  Church  in  building  their  large  and 
expensive  church  edifice.  This  was  the 
mother-church,  and  all  were  called  to  spe- 
cial effort  and  cheerful  liberality.  The 
strain  upon  the  energies  and  resources  of 
the  Baptists  of  Newark  was  severe  and  long 
continued ;  but  through  the  goodness  of 
God  the  harmonious  counsels  and  patient 
endurance  of  the  brethren  were  crowned 
with    success.     The   First  Church  was  re- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  3  I 

lieved  of  all  financial  embarrassment,  and 
in  the  possession  of  a  noble  and  attractive 
house  of  worship. 

The  way  was  now  open  to  prosecute  the 
building  of  an  edifice  for  the  North  Church. 
A  beautiful  location,  corner  of  Orange  and 
High  Streets,  140  by  70  feet,  was  selected 
and  purchased  for  five  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars. 

In  1863  plans  were  adopted  by  both  the 
Church  and  the  Board,  and  a  joint  com- 
mittee appointed  to  attend  to  the  erection  of 
the  new  chapel.  In  April,  1864,  the  Sun- 
day-school room  was  occupied,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year,  the  remainder  of 
the  building  was  completed  and  dedicated 
to  the  service  of  God.  The  North  Church 
paid  towards  this  object  the  sum  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  By  the  sale 
of  their  old  house  and  lot,  four  thousand 
more  were  realized.  The  First  Church  fur- 
nished fifteen  hundred  dollars  ;  the  South 
Church  the  same  amount.  In  all,  nine  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars  was  raised  in  the 


32  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

city  of  Newark  ;  and  the  remainder,  about 
four  thousand  dollars,  through  the  exertions 
of  the  pastor,  was  secured  from  abroad. 
This  is  the  only  instance  in  which  help  has 
been  extended  from  sister  churches  out  of 
the  city. 

Grateful  mention  should  here  be  made  of 
the  Christian  liberality  of  Mr.  John  M. 
Davies,  whose  name  has  already  promi- 
nently appeared  in  these  pages.  Mr.  Davies 
has  removed  from  the  city,  but  he  still  re- 
tains the  warmest  interest  in  the  Mission 
which  he  helped  to  organize.  For  assist- 
ance in  the  erection  of  the  chapel  in  the 
North  Ward,  and  the  new  edifice  which 
the  church  there  now  occupies,  as  well  as 
the  substantial  aid  rendered  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  two  houses  of  worship  which 
the  South  and  First  Churches  occupy,  the 
Baptists  of  Newark  owe  a  lasting  debt  of 
gratitude  to  Mr.  Davies. 

Immediately  following  the  dedication  of 
the  new  chapel,  a  blessed  work  of  the  Spirit 
began,    continuing    for     more    than     four 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSIOX.  33 

months,  resulting  in  greatly  refreshing  the 
Church,  and  adding  to  its  number  forty- 
four  by  baptism. 

In  1865-66,  thirty-three  were  added  by 
baptism,  and  during  the  latter  year  only 
one  month  passed  without  witnessing  the 
administration  of  the  ordinance. 

The  Church  commenced  the  year  1867 
with  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  which  was 
followed  by  a  very  quiet  and  gracious  re- 
vival. Thirty-five  were  baptized.  Unlike 
former  seasons,  the  work  began  and  con- 
tinued among  the  adults,  and  quite  a  num- 
ber of  husbands  for  whom  wives  had  lonor 

o 

been  praying,  were  brought  into  the  fold. 

In  December  of  this  year,  the  pastor, 
after  a  faithful  and  laborious  ministry  of  ten 
years,  resigned,  in  order  to  accept  an  ap- 
pointment of  the  Board  of  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  for  Kansas 
and  adjoining  States. 

Not  without  years  of  earnest  labor,  ac- 
companied by  the  cheerful  sacrifice  of  time 
and  means,   and    the    earnest   prayers    and 


34  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

united  efforts  of  the  Church  and  the  Board, 
have  the  results  here  sketched  been  at- 
tained. And  who  that  looks  at  the  attrac- 
tive chapel  of  the  North  Church,  occupying 
as  it  does  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites 
in  the  city,  and  takes  a  survey  of  the  field 
in  which  it  has  been  planted,  and  contem- 
plates the  souls  that  have  been  gathered, 
can  doubt  that  the  labor  and  the  money 
have  been  wisely  expended  ? 

It  should  here  be  added,  that  the  benevo- 
lent contributions  of  this  Church,  since  its 
constitution,  have  amounted  to  the  sum  of 
$3,950.22.  The  membership  now  consists 
of  three  hundred  and  one. 


FIFTH   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 
REV.   D.   T.    MORRILL,   PASTOR. 


NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  *\>i 


THE    FIFTH    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 
Constituted  March  19,  1 85 5. 

The  mission  in  the  Fifth  Ward,  as  has 
been  stated,  was  commenced  simultaneously 
with  that  in  the  North  Ward.  After  the 
division  of  the  two  fields,  Rev.  D.  T.  Mor- 
rill became  the  missionary  for  the  Fifth 
Ward. 

By  request  of  the  South  Church,  the 
Church  at  Rah  way,  of  which  Mr.  Morrill  was 
a  member,  invited  a  council  to  meet  in  the 
South  Church,  March  23,  1854,  to  consider 
the  propriety  of  ordaining  him  to  the  work 
of  the  Christian  ministry.  The  council  met 
accordingly,  and  after  an  examination  of  Mr. 
Morrill,  proceeded  to  ordain  him  by  the 
usual  services. 

Mr.  Morrill,  being  relieved  in  April, 
1854,  from  his  engagement  with  the  South 
3 


3&  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

Church,  entered  fully  upon  his  work  in 
the  Fifth  Ward  Mission.  During  the  ensu- 
ing winter,  God  was  pleased  to  bless  the 
preached  Word,  and  quite  a  number  of  per- 
sons were  converted.  It  then  became  ap- 
parent that  a  church  organization  was  indis- 
pensable to  the  greatest  efficiency  and  suc- 
cess of  the  Mission. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Board,  held 
March  5,  1855,  after  a  full  discussion,  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted  :  — 

"Resolved,  that  Rev.  Mr.  Morrill  be  instructed  to 
obtain  information  as  regards  the  material  that  can 
be  gathered  into  a  church  organization,  and  report  at 
a  subsequent  meeting." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  March  19, 
the  missionary  reported  that  fifty-six  persons 
had  voluntarily  tendered  their  names  as 
willing  to  become  constituent  members  of 
a  new  church  organization,  and  that  these 
persons  had  subscribed  four  hundred  and 
seventy  dollars  toward  the  support  of  the 
gospel  for  the  first  year ;  whereupon  it  was 
unanimously  resolved,  that  in  view  of  the 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  39 

circumstances,  the  Board  recommend  that 
a  church  be  constituted  at  an  early  day  in 
the  Fifth  Ward. 

On    Monday,  March  26,  1855,  a  council 
convened  in  the  South  Church,  in  response 
to  letters    of   invitation.     The   Articles   of 
Faith  and  Covenant,  adopted  by  the  breth- 
ren, being  satisfactory,  the  council  recom- 
mended their  recognition  as  a  regular  Bap- 
tist church,  to  be  called  the   Fifth   Baptist 
Church  of   Newark.1    The   public  services 
of  recognition  were  held  on  the  evening  of 
the  same  day.       Of  the   fifty-six  members 
constituting    this  Church,  about   an    equal 
number  came  from  the  First  and  the  South 
churches.     The   Church   proceeded    imme- 
diately to  elect  their  missionary,  who,  by  his 
faithful    services,  had  endeared  himself  to 
them,  to  fill  the  office  of  pastor. 

1  This  name  has  been  objected  to  by  many,  as  not  being  liter- 
ally true.  But  considering  the  German  Church  as  having  prece- 
dence in  point  of  time,  the  church  is  properly  named.  Another 
name  would  perhaps  have  been  chosen  ;  but  at  the  time  of  the 
organization,  the  church  had  no  local  habitation,  and  had  been 
known  as  the  Fifth  Ward  Mission. 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

The  first  Lord's  day  after  the  organiza- 
tion and  recognition  of  this  new  Church, 
was  one  full  of  solemn  interest  and  heavenly 
joy.  Six  new-born  souls  awaited  the  holy 
rite  that  should  introduce  them  into  Christ's 
visible  Kingdom.  The  hearts  of  all  were 
lifted  in  praise.  After  a  brief  morning 
service  in  the  hall,  the  Church  repaired 
to  the  South  Church,  where  the  ordinance 
of  Baptism  was  administered.  In  the  after- 
noon the  Lord's  Supper  was  celebrated  for 
the  first  time  by  this  infant  body  and  these 
new  disciples  were  welcomed  by  the  hand 
of  fellowship. 

The  great  want  of  the  Church  now  was  a 
suitable  place  to  meet  in.  It  was  evident 
to  all  that  no  very  great  and  permanent 
growth  could  be  expected  with  their  pres- 
ent accommodations.  In  the  early  part  of- 
August  the  subject  was  earnestly  discussed 
in  church-meeting,  and  a  resolution  unan- 
imously passed,  that  "  immediate  measures 
be  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  house 
of  worship."     A    building   committee    was 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


41 


also  appointed.  In  January,  1856,  the 
building  committee  reported  to  the  Church 
that  Deacon  H.  M.  Baldwin,  of  the  South 
Church,  who  from  the  first  had  manifested 
great  interest  in  this  Mission  enterprise, 
would  give  two  lots  on  the  corner  of  Lafay- 
ette and  Prospect  Streets,  when  a  house 
costing  not  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars 
should  have  been  built  and  paid  for.  Mr. 
Baldwin's  proposition  was  thankfully  ac- 
cepted, and  at  the  next  meeting  more  than 
three  thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  by 
those  who  were  present,  to  be  paid  within 
two  years,  in  eight  equal  installments. 

The  Church  then,  through  its  Trustees, 
presented  the  following  memorial  to  the 
Board :  — 

"  Dear  Brethren  :  —  In  the  past  we  have  been  ac- 
customed to  look  to  you  for  advice  and  aid.  This  ad- 
vice and  aid,  accompanied  by  the  Divine  blessing,  has 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  church  which  God  has 
so  increased  as  imperatively  to  demand,  in  our  opinion, 
the  speedy  erection  of  a  commodious  house  of  wor- 
ship. A  member  of  your  Board,  Mr.  H.  M.  Bald- 
win,   has    magnanimously  promised    to    deed    to   the 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

Trustees  of  this  Church  an  eligible  site  costing  two 
thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  when  there 
shall  have  been  erected  and  paid  for,  a  house  costing 
not  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars.  Pressed  by  the 
necessities  of  our  present  disadvantageous  location, 
encouraged  by  this  offer,  and  prompted  by  love  to  the 
cause  of  Christ,  we  resolved  to  make  an  effort  within 
ourselves  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object.  And 
as  the  result  of  this,  we  have  upwards  of  three  thou- 
sand dollars  subscribed.  Thus  situated  we  come  to 
you  for  advice  and  aid.  Shall  the  financial  response 
be,  '  Go  forward  ? '  when  to  go  back  is  impossible, 
and  to  stand  still  imperils  the  cause  ?  We  desire  a 
prompt  and  prayerful  reply.  If  the  remaining  amount 
is  subscribed  by  the  other  Baptists  in  this  city,  relying 
upon  Divine  aid,  we  promise  to  sustain  ourselves 
thereafter. 

"Yours,  etc." 

[Signed  by  the  Trustees  in  behalf  of  the  Church.] 

To  which  the  Board  responded  by  pledg- 
ing their  hearty  sympathy  and  cooperation. 
Plans  for  the  church  edifice- were  soon 
adopted  by  the  building  committee  of  the 
Church  and  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  Board. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  Rev. 
E.  L.  Magoon,  D.  D.,  September   15,    1856. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


43 


July  5,  1857,  the  lecture-room  was  dedi- 
cated with  appropriate  services.  At  once 
the  congregation  and  Sunday-school  began 
to  increase.  This  was  the  year  of  the  great 
financial  convulsion,  and  the  year  also  of 
the  great  awakening.  In  December,  the 
Lord  beofan  to  visit  the  church  and  con- 
gregation.  The  former  was  quickened  to 
work  and  pray  ;  the  latter  awakened  to  a 
sense  of  their  sins  and  their  need  of  a 
Saviour.  The  revival  was  of  such  power  as 
to  move  through  all  the  holiday  festivities 
without  hindrance.  As  the  result  of  this 
visitation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-three  persons  were  baptized 
and  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the 
Church. 

The  house  of  worship  having  been  fin- 
ished and  furnished,  was  dedicated  to  the 
worship  of  God,  April  21,  1858.  Dr.  Dow- 
ling,  Dr.  Babcock,  and  Rev.  A.  Kingman 
Nott,  preached  on  that  day.  A  small  debt 
remained  on  the  new  house.  This  debt, 
like  many  others  of  a  similar  nature,  seemed 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

difficult  to  pay.  The  finances  of  the  coun- 
try were  disturbed,  and  the  prospect  was 
not  encouraging.  The  Board  was  at  this 
time  paying  four  hundred  dollars  toward 
the  support  of  the  pastor.  The  Church 
had  pledged  the  Board  that  it  would  ask  no 
further  aid  as  soon  as  their  indebtedness 
was  removed.  It  was  seen  that  this  amount 
was  a  large  interest  on  fifteen  hundred  dol- 
lars, the  sum  yet  owed. 

Mr.  James  Hague,  of  the  South  Church, 
suggested  to  his  pastor  the  following  plan 
by  which  this  debt  could  be  removed,  and 
the  Church  enabled  to  fulfill  her  pledge  of 
self-support ;  namely,  the  Board  to  borrow 
the  money,  and  get  responsible  persons  to 
give  bona  fide  notes  with  interest  payable 
in  two  years.1  Through  the  earnest  efforts 
of  Dr.  Fish  and  Dr.  Levy,  the  notes  were 
procured ;  and  though  Mr.  Hague  died 
before  the  notes  became  due,  and  the 
amount  borrowed  was  returned,  yet  the  plan 
he  devised  secured  the  end. 

1  The  money  was  borrowed  from  Dr.  Rogers,  of  Paterson. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  45 

On  the  evening  of  January  3,  i860,  Mr. 
Wilson,  President  of  the  Board,  paid  over 
the  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  thus  removing 
all  claims  against  the  Church,  while  Mr.  H. 
M.  Baldwin,  according  to  his  pledge,  gave 
them  the  deed  of  the  lot  on  which  the  build- 
ing had  been  erected.  The  Church  unan- 
imously passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  these 
brethren,  and  then  employed  the  remainder 
of  the  evening  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving 
to  God  for  his  gracious  aid  in  the  work  of 
building  a  house  for  his  glory. 

The  Church  from  this  time  has  been  self- 
sustaining —  giving  to  the  treasury  of  the 
Board  instead  of  receiving  from  it.  Through 
the  blessing  of  God,  and  the  generous  co- 
operation of  the  City  Mission  Board,  this 
result  was  reached  in  less  than  five  years 
from  the  time  the  little  band  was  organ- 
ized. 

The  contributions  of  this  Church  since  its 
organization,  for  benevolent  objects,  have 
amounted  to  the  sum  of  $3,003.50.  The 
membership  now  consists  of  three  hundred 
and  ninety-seven. 


46  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

It  will  be  also  a  matter  of  interest  to 
state  that  during  the  past  year,  1867-68,  a 
very  neat  and  commodious  parsonage  has 
been  erected,  adding  greatly  to  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  the  pastor,  a  result  which 
was  much  facilitated  by  the  generosity  of 
brethren  who  are  members  of  sister  churches. 

In  concluding  this  sketch  we  are  moved 
to  indorse  the  remark  of  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Mr.  Morrill,  that  if  the  City  Mission  Board 
had  done  nothing  more  than  to  plant  this 
one  Church  in  all  the  years  of  its  existence, 
it  would  have  done  a  noble  work.  But  this 
is  only  one,  the  second  born,  of  the  Mission 
Church  sisterhood. 


FAIRMOUXT    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 
REV.  \Y\  D.  8EIGFRIED,  PAKTOK. 


XEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  49 


FAIRMOUNT     BAPTIST     CHURCH. 
Constituted  June  29,  i860. 

In  the  year  1859,  the  building,  corner  of 
Bank  and  Wickliff  Streets,  formerly  used 
by  another  denomination,  known  as  Fair- 
mount  Chapel,  was  reported  to  the  Board 
as  being  unoccupied.  Its  location,  the  rap- 
idly growing  neighborhood,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  successfully  establishing  a  mission 
there,  were  the  subjects  of  thoughtful  and 
prayerful  consideration  by  the  Board.  The 
result  was  the  opening  of  the  place  for  wor- 
ship, the  organization  of  a  Sunday-school, 
and  finally  the  purchase  of  the  property  at 
a  cost  of  over  three  thousand  dollars. 

For  the  first  few  months  the  pastors  of 
the  several  Baptist  churches  preached  alter- 
nately each  Sabbath  afternoon.  The  Sun- 
day-school was  under  the  efficient  superin- 


5<D  HISTORY  OF   THE  NEWARK 

tendency  of  Mr.  D.  C.  Whitman,  of  the 
South  Church,'  and  grew  rapidly  in  num- 
bers and  usefulness.  In  August,  1859,  Rev. 
C.  W.  Clark  was  invited  to  preach  in  the 
chapel.  This  service  resulted,  soon  after, 
in  his  call  by  the  Board  to  assume  the  care 
of  the  Mission.  On  the  6th  of  October, 
Mr.  Clark  entered  upon  his  labors.  During 
the  course  of  the  winter  the  Mission  enjoyed 
a  quiet  but  refreshing  revival.  Twelve  per- 
sons professed  conversion,  and  the  laborers 
in  the  vineyard  were  greatly  encouraged. 

January  19,  i860,  the  missionary  was  or- 
dained to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  by  a 
council  called  for  that  purpose  by  the  South 
Church. 

In  April,  thirty-eight  persons  signed  a 
memorial  to  be  presented  to  the  Board,  ex- 
pressive of  their  views  of  the  importance  of 
a  church  organization,  and  seeking  the  ad- 
vice of  the  Board.  After  mature  delibera- 
tion, it  was  voted  to  approve  of  such  a  pro- 
cedure. A  council  was  called,  and  met  in 
the  chapel  June  29.     Twelve  churches  sent 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  5  I 

delegates.  After  religious  services,  a  care- 
ful examination  of  the  Articles  of  Faith,  the 
prospects  of  the  new  Church,  and  remarks 
from  several  members  of  the  Board,  the 
council  unanimously  resolved  to  recognize 
the  body  as  a  regular  Baptist  Church 
under  the  name  of  the  Fairmount  Baptist 
Church.  The  services  of  recognition  were 
held  in  the  evening  in  the  First  Church. 
Rev.  T.  R.  Howlett  preached  the  sermon. 

The  new  Church  called  to  the  pastorate 
Mr.  Clark,  who  continued  his  relations  with 
the  Board,  as  their  missionary. 

During  the  course  of  that  year,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  winter  of  1 860-61,  the  Church 
received  the  most  evident  tokens  of  the 
Divine  favor.  The  number  of  meetings  was 
increased.  The  gospel  became  the  power 
of  God.  Forty-eight  were  added  by  bap- 
tism, and  twenty-five  by  letter. 

In  April,  1861,  the  Rebellion  broke  out, 
and  the  nation  was  called  to  arms.  The 
sudden  stoppage  of  almost  all  business  so 
embarassed  the    Board,    which    had    been 


c2  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

appropriating  to  this  Church  six  hundred 
dollars  annually,  as  well  as  sustaining  the 
other  missions,  that  it  was  compelled  to  re- 
duce the  donation.  By  many  it  was  feared 
that  the  pastor  could  not  be  sustained.  But 
a  system  of  personal  weekly  subscriptions 
was  devised  and  immediately  carried  into 
effect.  The  pastor  informed  the  Church 
that  he  would  remain  with  them  at  all 
events  and  share  their  sacrifices.  So  won- 
derfully was  the  Church  prospered  under 
these  scriptural  efforts,  that  for  the  first 
time  in  its  history  it  was  enabled  to  pay 
the  pastor's  salary  regularly  upon  the  first 
day  of  each  month. 

The  Board  on  several  occasions  assisted 
the  Church  in  enlarging  the  chapel,  and  in 
otherwise  adding  to  the  comfort  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  congregation.  But  the  Church 
felt  an  increasing  necessity  for  better  ac- 
commodations. Various  plans  were  pro- 
posed, and  as  speedily  abandoned,  because 
the  denomination  had  already  all  that  it 
could  sustain,  — the   North  Church  having 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  53 

just  commenced  its  long  delayed  work  upon 
its  new  house  of  worship. 

May  30,  1864,  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Board  recommend  to  the  Fair- 
mount  Church  to  make  an  immediate  effort  towards 
the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship." 

A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  co- 
operate with  a  similar  committee  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Fairmount  Church,  to  select 
and  purchase  a  site  for  the  proposed  house. 
After  a  careful  survey  of  the  field,  a  location 
was  finally  selected  on  Bank  Street,  above 
Wickliffe,  containing  seventy-five  feet  front 
by  one  hundred  feet  deep.  Measures  were 
immediately  taken  to  erect  thereon  a  house 
of  worship.  Eight  thousand  dollars  were  at 
once  subscribed  by  the  several  churches  for 
that  object.  This  amount  was  soon  greatly 
increased,  and  the  joint  committees  pro- 
ceeded with  the  building.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  September  12,  1866,  by  the  Hon. 
T.  B.  Peddie,  of  the  First  Church,  Mayor 
of  the  city ;   the  address  was  made  by  Dr. 


54  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

Dowling,  of  New  York,  and  the  various  in- 
teresting services  were  participated  in  by 
the  pastors  of  the  several  Baptist  churches. 

Sunday,  May  19,  1867,  the  lecture-room 
was  opened  for  public  worship.  Dr.  H.  C. 
Fish,  Dr.  E.  M.  Levy,  and  Rev.  C.  E.  Wil- 
son, Jr.,  preached  on  this  memorable  day. 

In  October  of  the  same  year,  the  pastor, 
Rev.  C.  W.  Clark,  who  had  so  earnestly  and 
faithfully  labored  for  the  interests  of  the 
Church,  resigned  the  charge  and  accepted  a 
call  from  the  Church  at  Red  Bank,  N.  J. 

In  July,  the  Church  extended  a  call  to 
Rev.  W.  D.  Seigfried,  who  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  entered  upon  his  duties 
September  9,  1868.  The  edifice  being  en- 
tirely finished,  was  dedicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God  on  the  sixteenth  of  September. 
The  contributions  for  benevolent  objects 
since  the  organization  of  the  Church,  have 
been  $931.  The  membership  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  one  hundred  and  sixty. 


MOUNT  PLEASANT   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 
REV.  C.  E.  WILSON,  JR.,  PASTOR. 


NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  57 


MOUNT     PLEASANT    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

Constituted  November,   1867. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  Novem- 
ber 27,  1865,  an  informal  discussion  was 
held  on  the  prospects  of  the  Eighth  Ward 
as  a  field  for  missionary  labor.  This  part 
of  the  city  presented  many  attractions  as  a 
location.  Broad  Street  —  one  of  the  finest 
avenues  in  the  country  —  runs  through  it 
in  a  northerly  direction.  It  is  also  on  the 
direct  road  to  Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery, 
the  banks  of  the  Passaic  River,  to  Woodside 
and  Belleville.  The  population  was  increas- 
ing, and  improvements  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial and  attractive  character  were  being 
constantly  projected. 

Other  denominations  had  long  been  re- 
ported as  designing  to  occupy  the  field,  but 
as  yet  no  signs  of  a  movement  were  apparent. 


c&  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  Board  felt 
it  to  be  their  duty  to  make  an  effort  to  pro- 
vide opportunities  for  religious  worship  for 
this  destitute  part  of  the  city. 

Mr.  W.  S.  Hedenberg,  the  treasurer  of 
the  Board,  had  given  much  attention  to  the 
subject,  but  could  find  no  place  suitable  for 
holding  a  Sabbath-school,  or  other  religious 
services. 

The  Board  listened  with  much  interest  to 
the  statements  made  at  this  meeting  by  Mr. 
Hedenberg,  and  finally  decided  to  appoint 
a  committee,  with  power  to  purchase  a  lot 
on  which  to  erect  a  mission  chapel. 

The  committee  reported  January  29, 
1866,  that  they  had  purchased  a  lot,  seventy- 
three  feet  front  on  Broad  Street,  nearly  op- 
posite Governeur  Street,  and  two  hundred 
feet  deep.  Immediate  measures  were  taken 
to  build  the  chapel.  In  November,  1866, 
the  chapel  was  finished  and  opened  with 
appropriate  services.  The  Sabbath-school 
was  partially  organized,  November  19,  1866, 
and  fully  so  December  3,  1866,  by  appoint- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  59 

ing  Mr.  D.  C.  Whitman,  superintendent. 
There  were  in  attendance  at  this  time,  fifty- 
four  scholars  and  fourteen  teachers. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Board  wisely  pur- 
chased sufficient  ground  on  which  to  erect 
an  edifice  such  as  this  beautiful  and  grow- 
ing portion  of  the  city  would,  at  a  very  early 
period,  assuredly  demand.  The  chapel 
might  then  be  removed  to  the  rear  of  the 
lot  and  used  entirely  for  the  Sunday-school 
and  weekly  services  of  a  social  character. 

On  the  second  Sabbath  in  February, 
1867,  Rev.  C.  E.  Wilson,  Jr.,  who  had  pre- 
viously been  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Seaville,  N.  J.,  entered  the  field  as  mis- 
sionary of  the  Board,  preaching  morning 
and  evening.  A  formal  welcome  was  ex- 
tended to  him  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day, 
in  which  the  pastors  of  the  various  Baptist 
churches,  with  the  pastor  of  the  neighbor- 
ing Methodist  Church,  participated. 

The  formation  of  the  Church  occurred  in 
November,  1867,  with  thirty-one  constituent 
members.     Several  conversions  were  soon 


60  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

after  reported,  and  the  Church  and  their 
faithful  young  pastor  received  early  tokens 
of  the  Divine  favor.  Other  denominations 
were  provoked  to  zeal  and  good  works ; 
several  chapels  were  soon  erected  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  and  thus  the  com- 
munity was  provided  with  the  preaching  of 
"  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God," 
and  the  children  with  instruction  from  lov- 
ing and  self-denying  Sunday-school  teachers. 


THE   PILGRIM   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 
REV.    SAMUEL   BAXTER,    MISSIONARY. 


NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  6 


J 


THE    PILGRIM    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 
Constituted,  March  8,  1868. 

In  the  spring  of  i860  a  few  members  of 
the  Fifth  Church  canvassed  the  Tenth  Ward 
for  the  purpose  of  gathering  into  their  Sun- 
day-school the  children  who  were  destitute 
of  religious  education.  These  earnest  Chris- 
tians were  much  affected  by  the  moral  waste 
which  they  witnessed  in  this  portion  of  the 
city.  Their  compassion  for  the  neglected 
and  the  perishing,  induced  them  to  devise 
means  for  their  recovery.  They  accord- 
ingly hired  a  small  room  in  a  private  house, 
and  opened  a  school  in  the  afternoon  of 
Sunday,  May  27,  i860.  At  the  first  session 
there  were  present  eight  scholars.  The 
school  having  been  dismissed,  the  teachers 
remained  for  prayer.  The  hour  for  which 
the  room  was  engaged  having  expired,  they 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

adjourned  to  the  street,  and  there,  under 
the  shade  of  a  tree,  proceeded  to  elect  their 
officers. 

The  school  increasing  in  numbers,  addi- 
tional room  in  the  same  house  was  engaged. 
Other  helpers,  principally  from  the  South 
Church,  came  in  and  offered  their  services. 

At  the  monthly  meeting  in  July,  this  new 
mission  enterprise  was  reported  to  the 
Board.  In  accordance  with  the  request  of 
the  Mission,  it  was  voted  that  the  Board  ap- 
prove the  action  of  the  brethren  in  establish- 
ing the  school,  and  also  of  their  collecting 
money  to  sustain  it :  and  that  it  might  be 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Board,  it  was 
voted  that  the  pastors  of  the  South  and 
Fifth  churches,  and  one  member  from  each 
of  said  churches,  be  a  committee  to  counsel 
and  superintend  the  Mission. 

The  school  continued  to  increase  in  num- 
bers and  usefulness  to  such  a  degree,  that 
its  influence  was  apparent  even  in  the  per- 
sonal cleanliness  of  the  scholars,  and  the 
good  order  of  the  neighborhood.     Sabbath- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  65 

breaking  and  other  forms  of  ungodliness 
were  greatly  diminished,  and  occasionally 
souls  were  converted. 

The  miserable  accommodations,  however, 
much  impeded  the  working  of  the  Mission, 
and  limited  the  sphere  of  its  usefulness.  But 
with  a  zeal  that  could  not  be  quenched,  and 
a  perseverance  that  must  always  command 
success,  the  Mission  continued  pressing  its 
claims  upon  the  denomination.  At  length 
Mr.  H.  M.  Baldwin,  of  the  South  Church, 
purchased  the  house  in  which  the  school 
was  held,  and  the  adjoining  grounds.  Mr. 
Baldwin  proceeded  to  give  such  a  portion 
of  this  property  to  the  Board  as  might  be 
required  to  build  thereon  a  chapel  for  the 
use  of  the  Mission,  besides  subscribing  lib- 
erally towards  the  building. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  30,  1864,  the 
Board  recommended  that  all  the  churches 
make  a  collection  the  next  Sabbath  in  behalf 
of  this  Mission.  The  churches,  without  ex- 
ception, responded  to  this  request,  and  lib- 
eral contributions  were  made  on  that  day. 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

Necessary  measures  were  at  once  taken 
to  erect  a  neat  and  substantial  chapel.  A 
building  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
Board,  and  the  work  was  prosecuted  with  so 
much  energy  that  the  building  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  for  divine  service  early 
in  July,  1864. 

The  following  services  were  now  held  in 
the  new  chapel :  preaching  at  \o\  a.  m.  by 
the  German  missionary,  Sunday-school  of 
the  Tenth  Ward  Mission  at  2\  p.  m.,  and  a 
prayer-meeting  at  jk  p.  m.,  besides  several 
weekly  meetings. 

Mr.  Samuel  Baxter,  having  labored  with 
acceptance  and  usefulness  in  the  Mission  in 
expounding  the  Scriptures,  exhorting  the 
people,  and  in  visiting  from  house  to  house, 
was  licensed  by  the  South  Church,  of  which 
he  was  a  member,  to  preach. 

In  April,  1867,  the  Board  appointed  Mr. 
Baxter  a  missionary  for  the  Tenth  Ward,  at 
the  same  time  appropriating  for  the  Mission 
five  hundred  dollars  for  .the  first  year. 

The    subject    of    a   church    organization 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  6  J 

was  long  and  prayerfully  considered  by  the 
Board,  but  for  various  reasons  was  deferred. 

At  the  Board  meeting  in  January,  1868,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  take  the  matter 
again  into  consideration.  The  committee 
met  the  teachers  and  others  composing  the 
Mission  in  the  chapel  on  the  evening  of 
February  1 1,  at  which  the  subject  was  freely 
discussed.  On  motion  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  report  at  a  future  meeting  the 
names  of  such  persons  as  would  become  the 
constituent  members,  should  a  church  be 
organized.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  the 
committee  reported  thirty-six  names,  with  a 
promise  of  others  as  soon  as  the  organiza- 
tion should  be  complete.  The  committee 
of  the  Mission  Board  were  requested  to  in- 
form the  said  Board  that  it  was  the  wish  of 
the  Tenth  Ward  Mission  to  become  a  regu- 
larly organized  church. 

The  committee  reported  to  the  Board  in 
accordance  with  this  resolution,  and  the 
Board  unanimously  voted  to  approve  of 
an  organization  of  a  church  in  the  Tenth 
Ward. 


68  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  March  8,  1868,  a 
meeting  was  held  in  the  chapel  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  a  church.  The  com- 
mittee appointed  to  apply  for  letters  of 
dismission,  reported  that  there  had  been  re- 
ceived twenty-eight  letters  from  the  South 
Church,  five  from  the  Fifth  Church,  and  two 
from  Fairmount  Church.  The  persons  bear- 
ing these  letters  proceeded  to  organize  them- 
selves into  a  church.  Measures  were  also 
taken  to  call  a  council  of  recognition.  At 
a  subsequent  meeting  the  name  of  "  Pilgrim 
Baptist  Church"  was  unanimously  adopted. 

The  council  met,  and  after  examination 
unanimously  voted  to  proceed  to  recognize 
the  body  as  a  regular  Baptist  Church.  The 
public  services  were  held  in  the  evening ; 
Rev.  H.  F.  Smith,  of  Bloomfield,  preached  ; 
Rev.  D.  T.  Morrill  gave  the  Hand  of  Fel- 
lowship, and  Dr.  Levy  delivered  the  Charge. 


FIRST  GERMAN  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 
BEV.   JULIUS    C.    HASSELHUHN,    PASTOB. 


Jpart  jfiftJ). 


GERMAN    CHURCH    AND    MISSION. 

— ♦ — 

THE    FIRST    GERMAN    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 
Constituted  September  7,  1849. 

E V.  K.  A.  Fleischman,  whose  men- 
tal and  moral  worth,  and  earnest 
labors  in  behalf  of  his  "  kinsmen 
according  to  the  flesh,"  have  secured  for  him 
so  large  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  American 
Baptists,  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
German  Baptist  minister  in  this  country. 
He  arrived  in  New  York  in  March,  1839. 
Receiving  an  invitation  to  preach  in  New- 
ark, he  came  to  stay  one  Sabbath,  but  was 
induced  to  remain.  Many  of  the  Germans, 
however,  finding  that  he  would  not  sprinkle 
and  confirm  their  children,  but  would  preach 
only  those  doctrines  and  administer  only 
those   ordinances    for  which  he  could  find 


y2  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

authority  in  the  Scriptures,  became  bitterly 
opposed  to  him.  But  the  Lord  was  with 
him,  blessed  his  labors,  and  permitted  him, 
in  October,  1849,  to  baptize  three  persons, 
the  first  Germans  in  this  country  who  re- 
ceived the  ordinance  from  a  German  Bap- 
tist minister. 

Mr.  Fleischman  soon  after  this  time  left 
NewTark  to  labor  in  Pennsylvania.  He  con- 
tinued, however,  to  make  frequent  visits  to 
this  city,  and  from  time  to  time  souls  were 
converted  under  the  preaching  of  a  pure 
gospel,  and  added  to  the  little  band  of  bap- 
tized believers.  They  united  with  Ameri- 
can Baptist  churches,  but  continued  to  hold 
among  themselves  regular  meetings  in  Ger- 
man. 

After  long  and  patient  waiting,  their 
heart's  desire  was  fulfilled  by  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  German  Baptist  Church,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1849. 

The  Church  was  recognized  September 
20,  1849,  by  a  council  consisting  of  dele- 
gates from  the  following  churches  :    South 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  73 

Baptist  Church,  New  York  ;  First  German 
Baptist  Church,  New  York  ;  and  First  Bap- 
tist Church,  Newark.  The  council  was  or- 
ganized by  appointing  Dr.  Summers,  of 
New  York,  moderator.  Immediately  after 
the  recognition  services,  the  council  pro- 
ceeded, by  request  of  the  Church,  to  exam- 
ine the  pastor  elect,  with  the  view  of  ordain- 
ing him  to  the  gospel  ministry.  The  ex- 
amination being  satisfactory,  Mr.  S.  Klipper 
was  solemnly  ordained  by  prayer  and  the 
laying  on  of  hands.  Mr.  Klipper  having 
resigned  his  charge  March  [,  1850,  the 
Church  were  without  a  pastor  more  than 
eighteen  months. 

In  October,  1851,  Mr.  A.  Htini  was  or- 
dained to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  by  the  request  of  the 
German  Church  which  had  called  him  to  be 
their  pastor.  The  number  of  their  mem- 
bership had  increased  to  thirty. 

After  a  successful  pastorate  of  four  years, 
Mr.  Hiini  resigned  February  7,  1856,  the 
Church  having  then  fifty-eight  members. 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

A  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  Conrad  Bor- 
denbender  in  August,  1856.  Mr.  B.  was  or- 
dained in  the  First  Baptist  Church,  August 
26,  1856.  Mr.  Bordenbender  labored  ear- 
nestly for  over  five  years,  during  which  time 
the  membership  increased  to  ninety.  He 
resigned  October  31,  1861. 

The  Church  called  Rev.  J.  C.  Hasel- 
huhn,  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  who  began  his 
labors  in  Newark,  January,  1862.  Until 
1 86 1,  the  Church  suffered  greatly  for  the 
want  of  a  house  of  worship,  having  always 
met  in  hired  rooms,  sometimes  unfavorably 
located  and  otherwise  inconvenient.  The 
necessity  of  a  proper  place  for  worship  was 
keenly  felt  by  their  American  brethren  as 
well  as  by  themselves.  The  subject  was 
more  than  once  introduced  and  discussed 
at  the  anniversary  meetings  of  the  City 
Mission. 

In  February,  1859,  the  Church  resolved 
to  make  an  effort  to  secure  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. Committees  were  appointed  ;  one1  to 
solicit  subscriptions,  and  the  other  to  select 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  75 

a  proper  place.  Subscriptions  among  them- 
selves soon  amounted  to  over  a  thousand 
dollars.  The  Church  then  resolved  to  lay 
their  case  before  the  City  Mission  Board. 
The  Board  kindly  received  them  and  gave 
them  much  encouragement.  It  was  also 
voted  that  the  German  Church  be  invited 
to  appoint  delegates  to  represent  them  in 
the  Board.  A  committee  consisting  of 
D.  M.  Wilson,  of  the  First  Church,  J.  O. 
Nichols,  J.  M.  Barrows,  and  R.  Johnston,  of 
the  South  Church,  was  appointed  to  coop- 
erate with  the  German  Church  in  selecting 
a  location  for  a  house  of  worship.  About 
this  time  the  German  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Mercer  Street,  above  High  Street,  was 
offered  for  sale.  The  joint  committees  were 
unanimously  in  favor  of  purchasing  the 
same.  The  Church,  February  5,  1861, 
authorized  the  Mission  Board  to  buy  it  for 
them,  at  the  price  of  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars,  which  was  accordingly  done.  Thir- 
teen hundred  dollars,  which  the  German 
brethren  had  raised  among  themselves,  was 


J 6  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

paid  on  it.  The  balance  the  Board  became 
security  for,  besides  repairing  and  putting 
the  house  in  good  order. 

The  dedication  services  were  held  April 
7,  1 86 1.  In  the  morning  the  dedication 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  K.  A.  Fleisch- 
man,  of  Philadelphia.  In  the  afternoon  a 
general  meeting  was  held,  and  addresses 
made  by  Drs.  Fish  and  Levy.  In  the 
evening  interesting  services  were  held  in 
German,  and  the  occasion  was  one  of  joy 
and  gladness  to  the  little  band  who  had 
been  so  long  without  a  religious  home. 

In  1864  an  effort  was  made  to  pay  off 
the  debt  that  still  remained  against  their 
chapel.  The  Church  raised  two  thousand, 
and  the  balance  was  paid  by  the  American 
churches.  These  results  placed  the  Ger- 
man Baptists  in  Newark  in  a  position  for 
aggressive  movements  among  their  coun- 
trymen. 

The  contributions  of  this  Church  for  be- 
nevolent objects  have  amounted  to  $4,092.93. 
The  number  of  members  is  two  hundred 
and  hue  he. 


TWELFTH   WARD  MISSION   CHAPEL. 
REV.    J.    C.    KRAFT,    MISSIONARY. 


NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISS1CN.  79 


THE    TWELFTH    WARD    MISSION. 

The  increase  of  the  German  population 
has  been  a  marked  feature  in  the  growth  of 
the  city.     In  every  direction  they  have  been 
building  homes  for  themselves,  and  extend- 
ing   their   influence.      The  Twelfth  Ward 
was  so  largely  composed  of  this  element  as 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  members  of 
the  German  Baptist  Church.    The  delegates 
from  this  Church  brought  the  condition  of 
the  Ward  before  the  Mission  Board.     The 
Board  at  once  appointed  a  committee  with 
instructions  to  secure  a  place  suitable  for  a 
Sunday-school.     No  better  place  could  be 
found  than  a  private  house  which  had  been 
a  drinking-saloon.      This   was   rented   and 
opened  as  a  mission  station.     The  second 
Sunday  in  June,  1863,  a  Sunday-school  was 
organized  with   one  hundred   scholars  and 
sixteen  teachers.     Religious  services  were 


80  HISTORY   OF    THE    NEWARK 

held  immediately  after  school,  and  the  pas- 
tor of  the  German  Church,  Rev.  J.  C.  Hasel- 
huhn,  preached  regularly  every  Sunday 
afternoon  for  more  than  one  year. 

As  the  field  needed  more  labor  than  Mr. 
Haselhuhn  could  bestow  upon  it,  a  mission- 
ary was  appointed  at  a  salary  of  six  hundred 
dollars,  who  began  his  labors  in  September, 
1864,  but  resigned  in  a  few  weeks  after  his 
appointment.  Rev.  A.  Transchel  entered 
upon  the  work  soon  after,  and  preached  ac- 
ceptably to  the  Germans  in  both  the  Tenth 
and  Twelfth  Wards,  until  his  removal  to 
Buffalo,  in  1866. 

In  May  of  the  same  year,  Rev.  C.  Kraft, 
of  New  Brunswick,  was  appointed  at  a  sal- 
ary of  eight  hundred  dollars. 

As  the  dwelling-house  in  Niagara  Street 
proved  entirely  inadequate  for  the  Sunday- 
school  and  mission,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Board  to  select  suitable  lots 
and  erect  a  chapel.  A  location  corner  of 
Niagara  and  Patterson  Streets  was  pur- 
chased,  and    a    commodious    chapel    was 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  8  I 

erected  thereon,  at  a  cost  of  about  five  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  dedication  of  this  new 
house  of  worship  occurred  on  Sunday  after- 
noon, September  4,  1866. 

The  field  has  thus  far  proved  to  be  an  ex- 
ceedingly hard  one.  Romanism  and  infi- 
delity are  predominant.  The  missionary 
can  only  reach  them  by  much  self-denial, 
and  by  visiting  from  house  to  house.  A 
few,  however,  have  been  converted,  and  the 
Sunday-school  contains  at  present  over  one 
hundred  and  fifty  children.  Through  the 
power  of  the  gospel  which  is  being  preached 
by  a  faithful  missionary,  and  the  earnest 
labors  of  the  members  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist Church,  there  is  much  to  encourage  the 
friends  of  Christ,  that  a  time  of  ingathering 
will  come,  and  in  place  of  the  little  chapel 
will  be  erected  a  substantial  and  attractive 
church  edifice.  The  Germans  are  attracted 
by  good  and  commodious  houses  of  wor- 
ship, and  are  exceedingly  fond  of  music. 
While  it  is  not  proper  to  encourage  extrav- 
agance in  either,  yet  it  is  wise  to  consult  the 


82  NEWAK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

taste  and  education  of  men  in  all  things  that 
are  lawful.  Fidelity  to  our  own  principles 
does  not  necessarily  involve  a  blind  and 
bigoted  opposition  to  everything  that  dif- 
fers from  our  habits  and  customs.  Things 
indifferent  should  be  allowed  to  be  indif- 
ferent, and  all  our  zeal  and  fidelity  concen- 
trated on  what  is  essential  both  in  faith  and 
practice. 


FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 
REV.    HENRY   C.    FISH,   D.    D.,   PASTOK. 


SKETCHES    OF   FIRST   AND   SOUTH   CHURCHES. 


FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 


Constituted  June  6,  1801. 


AVING  given  a  view  of  church 
extension  in  Newark,  it  is  desir- 
able, for  completeness,  to  intro- 
duce here  a  brief  history  of  the 
two  churches  out  of  which   this  movement 


The  First  Church  was  formed  on  the  6th 
of  June  1 80 1,  of  five  brethren  and  four  sis- 
ters, all  except  two  members  of  the  Lyons 
Farms  Baptist  Church,  one  of  the  oldest  in 
the  State.  Worshipping  at  first  in  a  school- 
house,  and  struggling  forward  in  great 
weakness,  it  was  not  until  the  year  1806 
that  they  were  able  to  occupy  a  home  of 
their  own,  which  consisted  of  a  small  meet- 

6 


86  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

ing  house,  35  by  45  feet,  on  Academy  Street, 
corner  of  Halsey  Street.  This  church  edi- 
fice was  taken  down  and  replaced  with  one 
48  by  68  feet,  and  costing  over  $5,000,  in 
the  year  18 10.  And  yet  again,  in  1841,  this 
house  underwent  thorough  repairs  and  im- 
provements, consisting,  in  part,  of  the  addi- 
tion of  a  vestibule  and  lecture-room,  at  a 
cost  of  $3,000.  The  picture  of  the  old  First 
Church  edifice,  in  the  front  part  of  this 
volume,  presents  an  accurate  view  of  the 
house  in  its  improved  condition,  and  as  it 
stood  until  it  was  finally  sold  upon  the  re- 
moval to  a  new  location. 

Of  pastors,  the  Church  has  had  fourteen. 
The  progress  of  the  cause,  in  its  outward 
manifestation,  can  best  be  seen  in  the  two 
tables  which  are  here  given. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


87 


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HISTORY   OF    THE    NEWARK 


The  following  table  exhibits  the  Number  of  Bap- 
tisms, and  the  Number  of  Members,  for  any  given  year 
up  to  the  present  time,  December,  1868  :  — 


Year  .  . 

1801 

1802 

1803 

1804 

1805 

1806 

1807 

1 80b 

1809 

181c 

1811 

Baptized 

— 

6 

2 

4 

2 

2 

n 

13 

16 

23 

4 

Members 

13 

17 

33 

36 

34 

33 

34 

46 

60 

88 

84 

Year  .  . 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 

1S19 

1820 

1821 

1822 

Baptized 

2 

1 

6 

2 

2 

37 

28 

3 

0 

2 

3 

Members 

64 

r> 

70 

72 

82 

no 

122 

120 

120 

112 

109 

Year  .  . 

1823 

1824 

1825 

1826 

1827 

1828 

1829 

1830 

1831 

1832 

1833 

Baptized 

4 

I 

1 

9 

7 

2 

1 

2 

8 

8 

14 

Members 

112 

IOS 

102 

102 

103 

107 

IIO 

in 

"3 

120 

128 

Year  .  . 

1834 

1835 

1836 

1837 

1838 

1839 

1840 

1 841 

1842 

1843 

1844 

Baptized 

9 

12 

23 

12 

9 

7 

48 

13 

n 

7 

6 

Members 

149 

164 

203 

221 

216 

213 

257 

264 

270 

261 

306 

Year  .  . 

1845 

1846 

1847 

1848 

1849 

1850 

1851 

1852 

1853 

1854 

1855 

Baptized 

7 

7 

30 

9 

7 

30 

42 

25 

21 

106 

36 

Members 

322 

33i 

372 

380 

376 

339 

378 

39i 

433 

55o 

492 

Year  .  . 

1856 

1857 

1858 

1859 

1860 

1861 

1862 

1863 

1864 

1865 

1866 

Baptized 

25 

18 

236 

19 

29 

25 

n 

6 

125 

16 

152 

Members 

462 

495 

730 

703 

716 

709 

697 

673 

777 

75i 

901 

Year  .  . 

1867 

1868 

Baptized 

13 

15 

Members 

900 

863 

BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  89 

From  the  foregoing  tables  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  Church  has  been   destitute  of  pas- 
toral care  for  more  than  nine  years.     Also, 
that  in  the  remaining  forty-one  years,  up  to 
the  present  pastorate,  the  average  term  of  ser- 
vice was  about  two  years  and  eleven  months. 
The  most  protracted  pastoral  service,  except 
the  present,  was  rendered  by  David  Jones  ; 
the  second  in  length,  by  H.  V.  Jones  ;  the 
third,  by  Daniel  Dodge ;   and  the  fourth,  by 
Charles  Lahatt  and  William  Sym.     Deduct- 
ing the  time  of  service  of  these  five  brethren, 
the  average  length  of  the  pastorate  under 
the  nine  remaining  ministers,  was  but  about 
one  year  and    four   months.     The  present 
unfinished     pastorate     extends     thus     far 
through  eighteen  years. 

The  total  number  of  additions  to  the 
Church  by  baptism  up  to  the  present  pastor- 
ate, was  511  ;  since  then,  919;  total  since 
organization  of  the  Church  (sixty-seven 
years),  1430.  Average  per  year  for  the  first 
fifty  years,  a  fraction  above  10.  Average 
per  year  since  then,  a  fraction  above  51. 


9<D  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

The  periods  of  the  greatest  weakness  and 
severest  trials  of  the  Church,  have  been 
those  of  its  most  frequent  change  in  the 
pastoral  relation. 

The  darkest  period  in  the  history  of  this 
Church  was  in  the  winter  of  1811  and  181 2. 
The  flock  was  without  a  shepherd,  scattered, 
distracted  by  internal  dissensions,  and 
threatened  with  pecuniary  calamity.  The 
following  action  as  to  a  Church  debt  tells 
its  own  story :  — 

"  Moved,  That  brethren  James  Beach  and  Jabez 
Pool  be  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Mr. ,  inform- 
ing him  of  the  impoverished  state  and  truly  distressing 
circumstances  of  the  Church.  Resolved,  To  throw  our- 
selves entirely  on  the  clemency  of  Mr. ,  trusting 

alone  in  the  mercy  of  God  to  direct  the  affair,  and  in 
submission  to  His  will,  wait  the  event." 

But,  although  this  Church,  particularly  in 
its  early  experiences,  had  many  and  sore 
trials,  its  history  as  a  whole  is  luminous  with 
the  goodness  of  God.  And  it  must  be 
noted,  that  its  missionary  era  was  the  era  of 
increasing  strength.    When  it  began  to  care 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


91 


for  others,  God  especially  cared  for  it.  In 
1836,  twelve  members  disconnected  them- 
selves from  the  parent  body,  and  formed  the 
Second  Baptist  Church  in  Market  Street, 
under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  P.  L.  Piatt. 
But  in  less  than  five  years  the  Society  dis- 
banded ;  and  it  appears  that  the  movement 
was  ill  advised.  With  this  exception,  the 
First  Church  stood  as  the  sole  American 
Baptist  body  in  Newark  until  the  expira- 
tion of  a  half  century,  when  the  South 
Baptist  Church  was  constituted,  as  the  re- 
sult of  a  true  Christian  enterprise. 

The  benevolent  contributions  of  the 
Church  cannot  be  fully  ascertained.  There 
is  extant  a  memorandum  bearing  the  date 
of  18 18,  showing  that  that  year  $1 1.00  were 
given  to  the  New  York  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation. In  1834  it  was  reported  to  the 
New  York  Association  that  the  Newark 
Church  had  given  $167.00  to  benevolent 
objects.  In  1836  the  sum  was  $675.00;  in 
1846,  $1,108.00;  in  1847,  ^1,192.57  ;  and  in 
1848,  $1,558.54. 


92 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 


The  following  table  presents  at  a  glance 
the  aggregate  yearly  benevolent  contribu- 
tions of  the  Church  so  far  back  as  statistics 
can  be  obtained  :  — 


1849 

$1,861.04 

1850 
$1,204.36 

1851 
$1,566.08 

1852 
$2,034.00 

1853 

$3,242.34 

1854 
$3,872.00 

1855 

$2,242.25 

1856 
$2,855.00 

1857 

$4,395.00 

1858 
$2,275.00 

1859 

$1,090.50 

i860 
$2,092.44 

1861 

$1,525.00 

1862 

$1,025.00 

1863 
$550.21 

1864 
$2,351.00 

1865 
$3,815.00 

1866 

$6,900.00 

1867 
$14,350.00 

1868 
$12,600.00 

The  total  of  these  figures  for  twenty  years 
is  $64,946.22  ;  or  an  average  of  $3,247.31  a 
year. 

Besides  these  sums  given  for  missionary 
objects,  the  pecuniary  strength  of  the 
Church  has  lately  been  severely  taxed  in 
the  erection  of  the  new  church  edifice  ;  the 
corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  October  4, 
1858,  and  which  was  dedicated  May  23, 
1 860.  The  necessity  of  a  new  house  had 
long  been  felt ;  and  the  undertaking  was 
only  deferred  that  the  City  Mission  work, 
sketched  elsewhere,  might  have   the  benefit 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  93 

of  the  united  energies  of  the  denomination. 
But  the  accessions  to  the  membership  from 
the  "  Great  Revival,"  and  other  circum- 
stances, intensified  the  demand  for  more 
ample  accommodations. 

The  first  formal  movement  in  this  direc- 
tion was  at  a  Church  meeting  held  April  23, 
1858,  when  the  subject  of  a  new  house  was 
introduced  and  favorably  considered,  but 
laid  over  to  a  special  meeting.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  copy  from  the  Church  Records  of 
the  doings  of  the  meeting  held  by  appoint- 
ment :  — 

"A  special  meeting,  April  26,  1858,  of  the  Church 
and  congregation  was  convened  by  a  call  of  the  Trus- 
tees publicly  read  from  the  pulpit.  Opened  with  sing- 
ing and  prayer.  After  which  D.  M.  Wilson  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  Isaiah  Peckham  was  appointed  Sec- 
retary. The  Chairman  stated  that  the  object  of  the 
meeting  was  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety 
and  necessity  of  erecting  a  new  house  of  worship  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  Church.  Brother  Andrews 
requested  that  the  first  chapter  of  Haggai  might  be 
read.  The  pastor  read  the  chapter.  After  an  informal 
exchange  of  views,  brother  Andrews  offered  a  resolu- 
tion :    '  That  the   time  has  come  in  the  providence  of 


94 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 


God  when  we  are  imperatively  called  upon  to  proceed 
in  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship.'  The  reso- 
lution was  unanimously  adopted,  and  the  vote  was  very 
large.  Subscriptions  were  then  taken  up  amounting 
to  the  sum  of  $10,800." 

Building  and  finance  committees  were 
appointed,  and  in  June  the  plan  of  the 
house  was  voted  upon  and  adopted ;  the 
carpenter  work  being  assigned  to  the  skill- 
ful and  faithful  hands  of  one  of  the  mem- 
bers, Deacon  David  D.  Dunn. 

It  was  intended  from  the  first  that  there 
should  be  no  Church  debt  upon  the  house 
when  completed ;  and  the  supposition  was, 
that  the  subscriptions  actually  obtained,  or 
easily  available,  would  cover  the  expense, 
the  old  house  and  lot  paying  for  the  new 
lot.  But  the  financial  panic  of  1857  and 
1858,  and  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war, 
disappointed  these  expectations.  The  sub- 
scriptions in  great  part  could  not  be  col- 
lected, and  the  old  Church  property  did  not 
find  a  ready  sale,  so  that  the  interest  on 
the  purchase-money  of  the  new  lot  had  to 
be  annually  paid,  besides  providing  for  the 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  95 

Church  debt  proper.  The  generosity  of  the 
congregation  was  again  and  again  brought 
into  requisition,  and  some  almost  wearied 
of  giving,  and  despaired  of  ever  seeing  the 
end  of  pressing  dues  and  persistent  appeals. 
The  financial  ability  of  an  efficient  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  the  utmost  help  of  pastor 
and  people,  scarcely  sufficed  to  meet  the 
emergency.  Indeed,  about  the  beginning 
of  1863,  an  unpaid  claim  was  so  far  pressed 
that  the  Church  property  was  technically 
in  the  sheriff's  hands.  This  perplexed  and 
embarrassed  state  of  mind  on  the  part  of 
the  brethren  from  pecuniary  troubles,  seri- 
ously impaired  the  spiritual  condition  of 
the  Church  ;  but  no  one  could  discover  a 
door  of  deliverance.  At  his  own  instiga- 
tion, Dr.  Fish  visited  Mr.  John  M.  Davies 
and  a  few  other  liberal  brethren  in  New 
York  city,  and  laying  before  them  the  whole 
case,  obtained  a  subscription  of  several  thou- 
sands of  dollars,  conditioned  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  the  whole  debt  of  $25,000,  except 
that  upon  the  Church  lot  (which  was  soon 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

afterward  met  by  the  disposition  of  the  old 
property).  This  subscription  from  a  neigh- 
boring city  agreeably  surprised  and  gave 
heart  to  the  members  of  the  Church  and 
congregation,  and  it  was  determined  to 
make  one  effort  more  to  sweep  away  the 
encumbrance.  The  strain  was  heavy  alike 
upon  the  pastor  and  the  brethren  and  the 
Baptists  generally  in  the  city  ;  but  through 
the  mercy  of  God  the  attempt  was  crowned 
with  success,  and  sincere  thanksgivings 
upon  the  following  Sabbaths  ascended  to 
heaven  from  a  worshipping  assembly,  at 
length  free  from  debt. 

The  following,  taken  from  a  copy  of  the 
"  Examiner,"  bearing  date  February  26, 
1863,  may  here  be  fittingly  introduced:  — 

"  The  First  Baptist  Church  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  of  which 
Dr.  H.  C.  Fish  is  the  pastor,  has  done  itself  honor. 
They  had  hoped  to  enter  their  new  house  of  worship 
free  from  debt.  But  this  hope  was  frustrated  by  the 
financial  troubles  of  the  times,  and  the  Church  has,  for 
some  time,  been  burdened  by  an  unpaid  balance  of 
$25,000.  The  members  of  the  Church  were  moved  by 
a  holy  ambition  to  attempt  to  shake  off  the  incubus, 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


97 


and  by  their  generous  efforts,  and  with  the  help  of  a 
few  friends  in  New  York,  they  have  now  provided  for 
every  dollar  of  the  debt.  The  Church  is  much  rejoiced 
at  its  freedom.  We  heartily  congratulate  not  only  our 
Newark  friends  on  the  energy  and  generosity  with 
which  they  have  ensured  success  for  their  enterprise, 
but  also  Baptists  in  general  on  the  evidence  which  this 
movement  gives  of  the  prosperity  of  one  of  the  largest 
of  our  churches." 

The  edifice  thus  completed  and  paid  for, 
is  located  in  the  centre  of  the  city,  upon 
Academy  Street,  and  within  a  few  rods  of 
the  largest  avenue,  Broad  Street.  In  its 
main  parts  it  is  built  of  brown  chiseled 
stone,  in  the  Romanesque  style  of  architec- 
ture, extending  one  hundred  and  seven  feet 
in  depth,  by  seventy-two  feet  front ;  and  is 
surmounted  by  two  turrets,  each  one  hun- 
dred and  twelve  feet  high.  The  first  floor 
is  divided  into  a  Lecture  Room,  forty-two 
by  sixty-six  feet,  two  Social  Rooms,  or 
Church  Parlors,  twenty-five  by  thirty-three 
feet  (which  three  rooms  may  be  converted 
into  one  by  sliding  partitions),  and  an  In- 
fant Class  and  Library  Room.     The  second 


98  HISTORY  OF   THE  NEWARK 

floor,  or  main  Audience  Room,  is  inter- 
sected by  four  aisles,  with  permanent  sit- 
tings for  about  fourteen  hundred  persons. 
The  Singers'  Gallery  and  Organ  are  behind 
the  pulpit,  at  a  slight  elevation,  to  facilitate 
congregational  singing.  The  Baptistery  is 
immediately  under  the  pulpit,  the  floor  of 
which  is  its  movable  cover,  and  has  Retiring 
Rooms  on  either  side.  The  whole  building 
is  every  way  substantial,  attractive,  and  con- 
venient, and  cost,  with  the  lot  and  the  fur- 
nishing, about  $50,000,  which  is  not  one 
third  of  the  present  value  of  the  property. 

Revivals  of  religion  have  been  a  marked 
characteristic  of  this  Church.  Particular 
mention  should  be  made  of  seasons  of 
awakening  in  the  ministries  of  brethren  Sym 
and  Jones,  and  those  of  more  recent  years. 
The  most  remarkable  of  these  gracious  visit- 
ations was  that  which  is  denominated  the 
"Great  Revival,"  in  1857  and  1858.  As 
this  period  was  memorable  all  over  the  land 
for  God's  converting  power,  and  perhaps  in 
no  place  more  so  than  in  Newark,  the  na- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  99 

ture  and  results  of  the  powerful  work  in  the 
First  Church  may  here  be  properly  put 
upon  permanent  record. 

The  earliest  indication  of  a  better  state  of 
things,  was  an  intense  yearning  for  its  exist- 
ence. This  was  seen,  particularly,  in  the 
latter  part  of  December,  by  which  time  the 
Sabbath  preaching  and  week-day  evening 
remarks  looked  almost  wholly  to  a  holier 
and  more  earnest  and  active  state  of  the 
Church.  As  yet,  however,  this  deep  solici- 
tude was  limited  to  a  very  few  individuals,  — 
apparently  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  be- 
sides the  pastor,  and  at  the  first,  not  even  to 
so  many.  Where  it  did  exist,  it  was  almost 
crushing  ;  and  particularly  on  one  occasion, 
at  an  evening  prayer-meeting,  the  burden  of 
spirit  was  so  great  on  the  part  of  the  pastor, 
as  to  incapacitate  him  for  the  conduct  of  the 
meeting,  and  he  sat  in  his  chair  giving  way 
to  suppressed  sighs  and  tears,  leaving  the 
meeting  to  take  care  of  itself. 

About  this  time  one  extra  weekly  prayer- 
meeting  was  held,  and  after  a  little,  two ;  and 


IOO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

finally,  perhaps  threescore  of  the  brethren 
and  sisters  met  every  evening,  by  common 
consent,  to  pour  out  their  prayers  to  God, 
and  to  talk  of  the  languishing  state  of  Zion. 
No  souls  had  as  yet  been  converted,  if  in- 
deed awakened ;  and  it  was  often  remarked, 
that  it  was  not  desired  that  the  brethren 
should  sing  and  pray  and  talk  too  much 
about  the  conversion  of  sinners  ;  they  were 
not  yet  thoroughly  reconverted  themselves ; 
and  it  was  needful  that  the  work  "get  roots  " 
in  their  own  hearts,  by  confession  and  suppli- 
cation and  exhortation,  and  the  alternations 
of  hope  and  fear.  The  tree  would  be  the 
more  fruitful  by  cropping  and  pruning  it 
severely.  When  the  Church  was  right  —  at 
least  a  small  part  of  it  —  then  it  would  be 
time  to  turn  attention  to  sinners. 

Not  long,  however,  was  it  possible  to  re- 
strain the  rising  desire  for  the  salvation  of 
others.  The  longing  was  towards  dying 
men  ;  and  it  is  remembered  that  one  brother 
wished  (to  use  his  own  expression)  that  the 
Lord  would  give  them  one  kid  over  which 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  j  0  j 

to  make  merry.  The  boon  was  not  long 
withheld.  One  soul  of  the  few  unconverted 
in  the  meetings,  was  awakened  and  renewed, 
and  then  another ;  others  came,  and  others 
still ;  the  meetings  increased,  and  soon  were 
transferred,  of  necessity,  from  the  lecture- 
room  to  the  body  of  the  house.  These 
meetings  were  continued  nearly  every  eve- 
ning till  near  the  middle  of  May. 

When  the  work  was  reaching  its  great- 
est strength,  and  the  audience-room  was 
crowded,  even  to  the  extra  seats,  it  was  sug- 
gested by  some  whether  another  minister 
might  not  be  invited  to  labor  with  the  pas- 
tor, and  so  economize  his  strength,  and  save 
him,  perhaps,  from  entire  prostration.  It 
was  concluded,  however,  with  one  mind,  to 
call  in  no  outside  help,  but  to  look  to  the 
Lord,  and  pray  and  labor  on.  With  the 
exception  of  a  single  week,  when  the  pastor 
was  called  away  to  visit  a  sick  mother,  resort 
was  not  had  to  outside  help.  Indeed,  this 
has  not  been  done  in  any  of  the  revivals. 

The  specific  form  of  effort  was  the  prayer- 

7 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

meeting.  Not  a  solitary  sermon,  as  such,  was 
preached,  except  on  Sunday,  and  then  only 
two.  Even  the  usual  weekly  lecture  was 
dispensed  with.  But  the  exposition  and  en- 
forcement of  the  inspired  word  were  never 
more  constantly  brought  into  requisition. 
After  the  opening  of  the  meeting,  ten  or  fif- 
teen or  twenty  minutes  were  always  given 
to  this  exercise.  The  design  was,  especially, 
to  open  up,  and  affirm  and  re-affirm,  in  every 
possible  way,  the  two  great  facts  of  theology 
—  man  a  sinner,  and  Christ  a  Saviour  — 
and  to  press  home  the  duty  of  an  immediate 
attention  to  the  things  of  salvation.  Christ 
was  continually  insisted  upon  and  held  up 
to  view  as  the  Saviour  of  the  lost,  and  the 
Word  of  God  was  never  more  honored  of 
God  as  the  chosen  instrument  unto  salva- 
tion. Almost  every  Sabbath-discourse,  par- 
ticularly, seemed  to  fall  with  power  upon 
the  congregation  eager  to  receive  it ;  and 
the  fruits  were  perceptible  during  the  week, 
in  the  awakening  or  relief  of  souls. 

Besides   pastoral    visitations,   an    inquiry 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  1 03 

meeting  was  held  an  hour  before  the  ordi- 
nary  evening  meeting,  in  the  lecture-room, 
where  each  one  present  was  conversed  with 
personally,  and  the  way  of  salvation  was 
minutely  explained  and  illustrated.  This 
means  was  greatly  blessed.  Two  tracts 
should  be  mentioned  as  especially  useful : 
"  Don't  Put  it  Off,"  and  "  What  is  it  to  be- 
lieve on  Christ."  Hundreds  of  the  latter 
were  given  away,  and  in  scores  of  instances 
did  God  employ  this  silent  messenger  to 
bring  light  and  relief.  In  later  works  of 
grace,  the  forty-eight  page  tract,  "  Two 
Questions,"  —  "Is  your  Soul  Safe?"  and 
"  How  can  I  be  Saved  ?  "  were  greatly  use- 
ful. It  should  alsobe  said,  that  the  brethren 
and  sisters,  especially  the  Sabbath-school 
teachers  and  converts,  were  active  in  exhor- 
tation and  invitation,  and  God  owned  and 
blessed  abundantly  their  labors. 

There  was  not  much  speaking  in  the 
prayer-meetings,  except  in  some  stages,  by 
the  converts,  nor  much  singing ;  praying  was 
the  main  feature.     Every  exercise  was  short 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

and  spirited.  Not  unfrequently  special 
prayer  was  offered  at  the  close  of  the  meet- 
ing, for  those  who  were  so  oppressed  with 
feeling  as  to  be  unable  or  unwilling  to  leave. 
At  these  seasons,  six  or  eight  of  the  breth- 
ren, out  of  the  few  that  tarried,  oftentimes 
prayed.  When  the  work  looked  like  ceas- 
ing, prayer-clusters  of  this  kind  were  formed 
to  pray  to  God  for  its  continuance  ;  and 
cases  of  awakening  were  always  multiplied. 
The  anxious  were  never  invited  forward, 
but  such  as  desired  prayers  were  requested, 
towards  the  close  of  the  meeting,  to  arise. 
This  act  of  committal  was  often  attended 
with  great  good. 

The  number  of  conversions  it  is  impos- 
,  sible  to  ascertain  ;  probably  it  would  reach 
three  hundred,  at  least.  Two  hundred  and 
thirty-five  were  baptized,  most  of  them  re- 
cent converts.  Of  these,  one  half  were  heads 
of  families  —  fathers  and  mothers.  About 
one  hundred  of  the  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  were  males.  A  larger  number  were  over 
forty  than  under  twenty  years  of  age  ;  the 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  1 05 

average  being  about  thirty.  About  two 
thirds  of  those  added,  were  unaccustomed 
before  to  worship  with  this  Church,  either 
attending  nowhere,  or  holding  connection 
with  other  congregations.  As  far  as  possi- 
ble they  were  all  put  at  work  in  the  Sunday- 
school  and  elsewhere.  The  younger  por- 
tion organized  themselves  into -a  Young 
Converts'  Prayer-meeting,  and  the  older 
into  an  Adult  Converts'   Prayer-meeting. 

As  another  result,  the  gifts  of  the  previous 
members  were  materially  developed  and  im- 
proved, and  new  attainments  were  made  in 
the  divine  life.  It  is  believed  that  the  moral 
power  of  the  Church  was  doubled  in  the 
space  of  a  few  months. 

Some  of  the  main  features  of  this  re- 
markable work  were  the  following  :  — 

1 .  The  evident  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
It  was  of  God,  and  not  of  man.  The  Spirit 
went  before,  the  preacher  and  laborer  fol- 
lowed after. 

2.  Clearness  and  depth  of  conviction  for 
sin.       Moralists    suddenly   saw    themselves 


106  HISTORY  OF   THE  NEWARK 

to  be  the  chief  of  sinners,  and  stout  and 
hard-hearted  men  were  made  to  weep  like 
children  under  a  sense  of  their  guilt  and 
danger.  In  several  cases,  awakened  men 
were  unable  to  prosecute  their  daily  busi- 
ness, and  not  unfrequently  did  the  anxious 
tell  of  their  sleepless  nights,  and  their  deep 
burden  of  spirit.  In  one  case,  a  man  sitting 
up  to  pray  until  after  midnight,  seemed,  as 
he  said,  to  be  sinking  through  the  floor ; 
and  rising  from  his  knees,  could  scarcely 
walk.  In  another,  a  sturdy  man,  hitherto 
unmoved,  was  seen  standing  in  the  vestibule 
of  the  church,  with  his  long  beard  all  jew- 
eled with  the  tear-drops  that  were  rolling 
from  his  eyes.  Another  man  declared  that 
he  had  carried  a  "  cannon  ball "  in  his  heart 
for  days  together,  and  that  if  it  had  been 
continued  for  three  days  longer  he  could 
not  have  lived.  He  could  neither  sleep  nor 
eat ;  and  yet,  a  few  days  before,  he  was  as 
unmoved  as  a  rock.  In  another  case,  a  man 
in  middle  life  came  to  see  the  pastor,  and 
on   entering  the  house,  cried   aloud  as   he 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  lOJ 

told  of  his  sins,  and  was  so  agitated  that 
he  trembled  from  head  to  foot,  and  could 
scarcely- sit  in  his  chair.  Several  times, 
while  he  was  being  told  what  he  must  do  to 
be  saved,  he  burst  out  crying,  and  exclaimed, 
"O,  but  I  have  been  such  a  sinner!  "  Another 
man  wholly  suspended  his  work,  stayed  at 
home,  read  his  Bible  and  prayed,  and  seemed 
to  be  actually  waxing  poor  in  flesh  from  in- 
tense concern  of  mind.  He  was  the  pic- 
ture of  despair.  All  these  were  men  in  ma- 
ture life,  and  hitherto  self-righteous  moral- 
ists. 

3.  A  clear  insight  into  the  way  of  salva- 
tion through  Christ,  on  the  part  of  the  con- 
verts. In  most  cases,  the  sum  of  the  an- 
swer for  the  hope  of  salvation,  was,  "  Christ 
died  /"  In  most  cases,  it  was  the  sight  of 
the  cross  that  brought  relief.  As  a  conse- 
quence, the  converts  were  generally  strong, 
and  went  on  their  way  obeying  and  rejoic- 
ing. Taken  as  a  whole,  the  relation  of  ex- 
periences was  satisfactory  in  the  highest 
degree. 


IOS  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

4.  Its  freedom  from  noise  and  excitement. 
No  careless  observer  would  have  perceived 
anything  remarkable.  The  meetings  were 
uniformly  solemn,  almost  like  a  funeral :  — 
no  audible  groanings  or  rejoicings,  and 
nothing  whatever  to  which  the  most  fastid- 
ious could  take  exception. 

5.  The  honor  put  upon  prayer,  and  the 
ordinary  means  of  grace.  Answer  to  prayer 
was  oftentimes  direct  and  almost  instan- 
taneous. In  some  of  the  most  earnest  and 
importunate  of  combined  supplications,  the 
brethren  were  as  conscious  that  they  were 
heard  above,  as  if  it  had  been  expressly  re- 
vealed to  them.  Directness  in  prayer  was  a 
marked  feature.  Now,  the  one  points 'as  the 
awakening  of  sinners  ;  now,  the  relief  of  the 
burdened  ;  and  then  again,  the  efficiency  of 
the  word  preached.  Beyond  these  three 
things  the  range  of  prayer  did  not  often 
extend,  and  in  some  cases,  the  wrestling 
rose  well-nigh  to  an  agony  of  spirit.  Lay- 
agency  was  greatly  honored,  and,  as  already 
remarked,  the  plain  and  pointed  preaching 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  109 

of  the  gospel.  Such,  in  some  of  its  main 
features,  was  one  of  the  most  precious 
awakenings  with  which  a  Church  was  ever 
blessed. 

Large  numbers  of  the  converts  gathered 
during  revivals,  and  at  other  seasons,  have 
in  late  years  been  dismissed  to  help  in  the 
formation  of  new  churches  within  the  limits 
of  the  city.  This  has  also  been  true  in  re- 
spect to  the  experienced  members.  To 
give  up  these  beloved  brothers  and  sisters, 
often  the  tried  helpers  of  the  pastor,  has 
been  a  real  sacrifice.  In  the  nature  of  the 
case,  it  must  liave  called  into  exercise  en- 
largedness  of  view  and  unselfishness  of  feel- 
ing. But  it  is  believed  that  wherever  one 
has  felt  it  to  be  duty  to  go  out  and 
strengthen  the  weak  places  in  Zion,  no 
obstacle  has  been  laid  in  the  way  ;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  whole  spirit  of 
the  preaching  has  tended  in  the  direction 
of  earnest  individual  exertion.  Certainly 
those  dismissed  from  this  body  within  less 
than  twenty  years  would  make  several  effi- 
cient churches. 


I  IO  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

But,  with  a  present  harmonious  member- 
ship of  more  than  eight  hundred  and  fifty 
souls,  and  perhaps  the  largest  Sabbath  audi- 
ences of  any  denomination  in  the  State  ; 
with  a  Sunday-school  averaging  nearly  five 
hundred  ;  with  an  average  charitable  distri- 
bution each  year  of  more  than  ten  thousand 
dollars,  besides  a  generous  outlay  for  cur- 
rent expenses ;  and  with  the  exercise  of  its 
full  proportion  of  moral  power  in  the  com- 
munity where  it  is  planted,  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Newark  may  be  instanced  as  an 
example  of  the  divine  principle,  that  "  there 
is  that  scattereth  and  yet  iricreaseth  :  "  — 
a  point  which  is  prominently  dwelt  upon 
in  the  closing  chapter  of  this  work. 


SOUTH   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 
REV.    EDGAR   M.    LEVY,    T>.  D.,    PASTOR. 


NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


HISTORY     OF     THE     SOUTH    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 
Constituted  February  13,  1850. 

It  is  conceded  by  all,   that  the  erection 
of  the  South  Church  gave  the  first  impulse 
to  the  spirit  of  city  missions.     For  nearly 
fifty  years  the  Baptist  cause  had  been  in  a 
dormant  state.     A  small  frame  building  on 
Academy    Street    accommodated    all    who 
could  be  induced  to  attend  public  worship 
conducted    by    Baptists.     But   little   money 
was  raised,  and  but  few  efforts  were  made 
for  the  enlargement  of  Zion.     The  limits  of 
the    city  had  extended   on  every  hand,  the 
population  had  increased  at  a  wonderfully 
rapid    rate,   and    other   denominations    had 
grown    from   three   to  seven  fold,   and    yet 
during  all   this   time    the  Baptists  had  ap- 
peared   satisfied    with    their    ill-constructed 
meeting-house,  and  with  the  limited  influ- 


ii4 


HISTORY  OF   THE   NEWARK 


ence  they  were  exerting  in  the  community. 
The  gospel  had  been  preached  among  them 
by  able  and  faithful  ministers,  but  there 
were  few  comparatively  who  seemed  moved 
by  it  to  a  reception  of  Christ,  while  the 
piety  of  many  of  these  even,  was  of  a  sickly 
and  feeble  type,  like  the  health  of  children 
who  have  been  long  confined,  and  have  had 
no  opportunity  for  physical  exercise  or  for 
breathing  the  pure  air  of  heaven. 

It  pleased  God  at  last,  however,  to  move 
the  hearts  of  a  few  worthy  men  to  break  up 
this  spell  of  self-satisfaction.  At  several 
meetings  of  the  Church,  and  on  the  street 
and  elsewhere,  the  subject  of  church  ex- 
tension and  Christian  enterprise  was  in- 
troduced and  earnestly  advocated.  These 
brethren,  feeling  deeply  the  necessity  of  ex- 
pansion, and  moved  with  holy  zeal  for  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom,  finally 
succeeded  in  awakening  an  interest  in  be- 
half of  the  movement  in  the  minds  of 
others. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Church  in  1849,  a 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


115 


committee  was  appointed  "  in  order  to  take 
measures  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church 
edifice,  and  for  the  organization  and  perma- 
nent establishment  of  a  new  Baptist  interest 
in  addition  to  the  one  now  existing." 

In  accordance  with  this  resolution,  a  lot 
on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Fulton  streets 
was  soon  after  purchased.  Failing,  how- 
ever, to  obtain  a  satisfactory  title,  the  prop- 
erty was  abandoned,  and  the  attention  of 
the  committee  was  directed  to  the  southern 
part  of  the  city.  A  location,  Kinney  Street 
near  Broad,  was  at  length  selected,  and 
measures  were  immediately  taken  to  erect  a 
neat  and  substantial  structure  for  the  wor- 
ship and  glory  of  God. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  lecture-room  of 
the  First  Church,  February  13,  1850,  of 
persons  holding  letters  of  dismission  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  new  Church  to  occupy 
the  edifice  then  in  course  of  erection,  Mr. 
Edward  Doughty  was  chosen  Moderator, 
and  M--  D.  C.  Whitman,  Clerk.  After 
prayer,    the    Moderator    requested  persons 


Il6  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

holding  letters  of  dismission,  for  the  pur- 
pose for  which  this  meeting  was  called,  to 
present  them.     The  following  was  read  :  — 

"  At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
in  the  city  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  held  February  13,  1850, 
the  following  brethren  and  sisters,  members  in  regular 
standing  with  us,  were,  at  their  own  request,  dismissed 
to  form  a  new  Baptist  Church  to  worship  in  the  house 
now  being  erected  by  this  Church,  in  Kinney  Street  in 
this  city,  namely :  Edward  Doughty,  John  M.  Davies, 
Alice  S.  H.  Davies,  Louisa  Davies,  Robert  Johnston, 
Ann  L.  Johnston,  Samuel  Baldwin,  Mary  Baldwin, 
Mary  Belcher,  David  Jones,  Mary  Jones,  Jane  B. 
Hedden,  Emma  Ely,  James  Hague,  Anna  Hague, 
Daniel  C.  Whitman,  Abraham  Runyon  Jr.,  Sarah  Ann 
Runyon,  Jane  Morris,  Rebecca  Shuart,  Caleb  H.  Earl, 
Elizabeth  H.  Earl,  Mary  M.  Earl,  Mary  Canfield, 
George  P.  Morrow,  E.  P.  Morrow,  Catherine  Fowler, 
George  H.  Bruen,  Maiy  Bruen,  George  M.  Foster, 
Mary  Law,  Lydia  Ann  Force,  Julia  Wilson,  Maria 
Hedden,  Isaac  Scribner,  Caroline  Scribner,  I.  Cam- 
field.  May  the  blessing  of  God  attend  the  formation 
of  this  new  interest,  and  the  same  unanimity  and  Chris- 
tian harmony  ever  characterize  the  intercourse  of  the 
two  sister  churches  which  prevail  between  us  and  these 
dear  brethren  and  sisters. 

"  By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Church. 

"  Isaiah  Peckham,  Church  Clerk." 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  [  I  7 

The  persons  named  in  this  letter,  who 
were  present,  were  requested  to  arise  and 
thereby  signify  their  assent  to  the  formation 
of  this  new  Church.  Prayer  was  then  of- 
fered by  Mr.  David  Jones.  Articles  of 
Faith  were  adopted,  and  a  covenant  read 
and  approved.  South  Baptist  Church,  Kin- 
ney Street,  Newark,  New  Jersey,  was 
adopted  as  the  name  by  which  this  Church 
should  be  known.  Mr.  George  H.  Bruen 
was  elected  clerk. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  following 
additional  names  were  presented,  and  by 
vote  were  received  as  constituent  members : 
Ebenezer  T.  Kirkpatrick,  Joseph  O.  Nichols, 
Eliza  D.  Nichols,  Abraham  Coles,  John  H. 
Cross,  Nancy  Johnston,  Mary  Earl,  John 
Rees,  —  in  all  forty-five  members. 

With  great  unanimity  the  Rev.  William 
Hague,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Church.  On  motion,  a 
council  of  delegates  from  Baptist  churches 
was  called  to  meet  in  the  First  Church,  on 
the  first  Tuesday  in  March,  for  the  purpose 


Il8  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

of  publicly  recognizing  the  body  as  a  regu- 
lar Baptist  Church.     This  council  convened 
according  to   the  request,  Tuesday,  March 
5,  1850,  when,,  after  an  examination  of  the 
Articles  of  Faith,  and  the  manner  of  their 
organization,  it  was   unanimously  resolved 
to  proceed  to  recognize   them  as  an  inde- 
pendent  church   of  Christ.     The    services 
were  held  the  same  evening  in  the  following 
order:  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  Prayer 
by  the     Rev.    H.   C.    Fish,    of    Somerville, 
N.  J. ;   Sermon  by  the  Rev.  E.  L.  Magoon, 
D.  D.,  NewYork,  from  Psalm  cxix.  1 8  ;  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev.  H.  V.  Jones, 
pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Newark, 
N.J. ;  Charge  to  the  Church  by  Rev.  S.  J. 
Drake,  Plainneld,  N.  J. 

The  Lecture-room  of  the  church  edifice 
was  opened  for  worship,  April  14,  1850.  Dr. 
Hague,  the  pastor,  was  present  for  the  first 
time,  and  preached  in  the  morning  from 
Mark  iv.  34.  "  Vestry  services  "  was  the 
subject  of  the  discourse.  In  the  afternoon, 
the    twenty-first   chapter  of  John  'was    ex- 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  \  \  9 

pounded,  and  the  small  meetings  of  the  dis- 
ciples, with  their  beloved  Master  as  their 
teacher,  was  the  subject. 

July  18,  1850,  the  church  edifice  being 
finished,  was  opened  for  public  worship. 
Dr.  Hague  preached  from  Ephesians  iv.  21. 

This  enterprise,  so  auspiciously  begun, 
sent  a  thrill  of  vital  energy  through  the 
whole  body.  It  was  now  seen  what  might 
be  accomplished  by  the  united  efforts  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  devising  liberal 
things. 

The  South  Church  continued  to  prosper 
under  the  able  discourses  and  faithful  labors 
of  its  distinguished  pastor.  Our  princi- 
ples, as  a  denomination,  were  so  clearly  de- 
fined, and  so  scripturally  maintained,  that 
many  from  other  denominations  were  con- 
vinced and  became  obedient  to  the  truth. 
Many  also,  among  the  unconverted,  were 
awakened  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  sought 
mercy  through  Christ,  "  believed,  were  bap- 
tized, and  added  to  the  Church." 

The  Church  likewise  abounded  in  gen- 


120  HISTORY  OF   THE   NEWARK 

erosity.  Liberal  donations  were  made  from 
time  to  time,  towards  the  extension  of 
Christ's  kingdom  in  the  city  and  through- 
out the  world.  Very  early  in  the  history 
of  the  Church,  the  subject  of  systematic 
benevolence  claimed  special  attention.  In 
July,  1850,  Dr.  Hague  made  the  following 
report :  — 

"  Newark,  July  2,  185 1. 

'4  The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  and  propose 
a  plan  for  regular  and  permanent  contribution  to  ob- 
jects of  benevolence,  report, — 

"  That  they  regard  the  object  before  them  as  one  of 
the  most  important  that  can  now  engage  the  attention 
of  the  Church.  As  with  us  it  is  an  acknowledged  truth 
that  a  church  is  Christ's  appointed  instrumentality  for 
the  extension  of  His  kingdom  on  the  earth,  the  ques- 
tion which  relates  to  a  plan  of  contribution  is  one  which 
bears  directly  on  the  grand  design  for  which  the  Church 
was  constituted.  To  the  Corinthian  Church  the  Apos- 
tle said,  '  Therefore  as  ye  abound  in  everything,  in 
faith,  in  utterance,  in  knowledge,  in  all  diligence,  and 
in  your  love  to  us,  see  that  ye  abound  in  this  grace 
also,'  that  is,  liberal  giving.  Hence  it  is  evident  that 
God  has  made  it  the  duty  of  a  church  to  promote  His 
cause,  not  only  by  contending  earnestly  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints,  but  also  by  the  contribu- 
tion of  property. 


B  API  IS  7    CITY  MISSION.  I  2  I 

"  In  writing  to  this  same  Church,  to  whom  the  words 
just  quoted  were  addressed,  Paul  gave  the  following 
direction  :  '  Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every 
one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store  as  God  has  prospered 
him,  that  there  be  no  gatherings  when  I  come.'  At 
that  time  a  special  object  of  benevolence  was.  before 
the  Church  of  Corinth,  and  the  Apostle  wished  all  the 
members  of  it  to  contribute  systematically  and  from 
principle,  with  quietness  and  efficiency,  so  that  he 
might  not  appear  among  them  as  a  fiscal  agent  seek- 
ing for  money.  The  direction  which  we  have  cited 
involves  several  important  principles. 

"  First,  that  Christian  benevolence  should  be  con- 
ducted according  to  a  system.  It  should  not  be  left  to 
the  mere  play  of  impulse  or  the  excitement  of  circum- 
stances. 

"  Second,  that  this  system  should  be  comprehensive 
and  pervasive.  '  Let  every  one  lay  by  him.'  Let  the 
sick  and  the  poor  meet  together  with  their  offerings  of 
love  at  the  altar  of  Christ. 

"  Third,  that  the  designation  should  be  made  at  a 
stated  time,  frequently  as  often  as  once  a  week.  On  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  when  we  thank  God  for  redemp- 
tion and  salvation,  then  we  are  bidden  to  lay  a  tax  on 
our  worldly  income  or  expenditure,  and  to  place  it  as 
a  tribute  of  gratitude  at  the  Saviour's  feet. 

"  Fourth,  this  weekly  study  and  calculation  of  the 
amount  of  our  contribution  should  lead  us  to  give  to 


122  HISTORY  OF    THE  NEWARK 

an    extent   commensurate  with   our  power  of  giving. 
'  Let  every  one  lay  by  as  God  has  prospered  him.' 

"  Here  we  have  developed  the  apostolical  plan  of 
benevolence  ;  a  system  of  God's  ordering  —  simple, 
equal,  rational,  effectual ;  requiring  nothing  to  sustain 
it  in  any  church  but  that  degree  of  love  to  Christ  and 
His  cause  which  will  keep  us  from  forgetting  Him  longer 
than  the  interval  between  successive  Sabbaths.  If  we 
have  real  love  to  Him,  that  system  would  be  found  to 
be  self-sustaining,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that 
the  result  would  prove  that  the  hints  of  Scripture  are 
better  than  volumes  of  man's  wisdoms. 

"  In  view  of  these  considerations,  which  might  be 
more  largely  urged,  the  Committee  recommend,  — 

"  First,  that  a  collection  be  taken  after  the  sermon, 
on  the  morning  of  every  Sabbath,  for  the  cause  of 
evangelization. 

"  Second,  that  from  the  funds  thus  accruing  to  the 
treasury  of  the  Church,  appropriations  be  made  to 
specific  objects  of  benevolence,  at  such  times  as  may 
be  hereafter  designated. 

"  All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

"  Wm.  Hague." 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a  system  of 
Sabbath  offerings  which  has  secured  a  large 
amount  of  money  in  the  aggregate,  and  has 
been  a  continual  source  of  blessing  to  the 
Church.      This  system  of  benevolence  was 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 


123 


farther  modified  in  [865,  when  Dr.  Levy, 
by  direction  of  the  Church,  presented  the 
following  plan,  by  which  the  contributors 
know,  at  all  times,  the  objects  which  are 
claiming  their  offerings  and  their  prayers : 

"  The  custom,  recommended  by  the  Apostle  Paul,  and 
established  by  this  Church  at  its  organization,  is  still 
cherished  by  us  as  eminently  the  wisest  and  most  suc- 
cessful and  becoming  arrangement  for  securing  the 
contributions  of  God's  people.  It  is  but  right  that 
every  Christian,  as  he  comes  to  the  sanctuary  '  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week  '  to  worship  God  and  to  give 
thanks  'for  His  unspeakable  gift,'  should  bring  with 
him  a  portion  of  the  fruits  with  which  God  has  crowned 
his  labors.  The  rich  should  give  of  their  abundance, 
the  poor  of  their  frugal  savings,  and  all  should  give 
cheerfully  and  according  to  the  measure  of  their 
ability. 

"  The  collections  on  each  Sunday  morning  will  be 
appropriated  to  the  following  objects  and  in  the  order 
now  designated  :  — 

"  January  and  February,  Foreign  Missions  ;  March, 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society  ;  April,  Newark 
Baptist  City  Mission  ;  May,  Sunday-schools  ;  June, 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  ;  July  and 
August,  Miscellaneous  Objects  ;  September,  American 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  October  and  November, 


124 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NEWARK 


New  Jersey  Baptist  State  Convention  ;  December,  New 
Jersey  Baptist  Education  Society,  and  the  Ministers' 
and  Widows'  Fund." 

November  2,  1853,  the  Church  was  called 
to  bear  their  first  trial.  Dr.  Hague,  their 
esteemed  pastor,  after  a  pastorate  of  about 
three  and  a  half  years,  resigned  his  charge. 

The  Church  was  supplied  with  preaching 
by  Rev.  D.  T.  Morrill,  until  March  12,  1854, 
when  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  O.  S. 
Stearns,  of  Southbridge,  Mass.  Mr.  S.  en- 
tered upon  his  duties  May  7,  1854,  on  which 
occasion  public  services  of  welcome  were 
held,  in  which  several  ministers  of  the  city 
and  vicinity  participated. 

This  second  pastorate,  which  was  so  sat- 
isfactory to  the  Church,  was  destined  to  be 
of  short  duration. 

December  17,  1854,  by  permission  of  the 
Church,  Rev.  Dr.  Sears  presented  himself 
as  a  messenger  from  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Newton  Centre,  Mass.,  and  described  the 
need  of  the  Church  there,  and  made  an 
urgent  appeal  that  the  South  Church  would 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  25 

relinquish  their  claims  upon  their  pastor, 
and  consent  to  his  accepting  the  call  which 
had  been  made  by  the  Church  he  repre- 
sented. 

The  South  Church,  through  a  committee, 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  Church  at  Newton 
Centre,  declining  to  comply  with  their  re- 
quest. The  pastor,  yielding  to  the  warm 
expressions  of  affection  and  of  earnest 
wishes  that  he  would  not  sunder  the  ties 
which  bound  them  together,  publicly  an- 
nounced, January  14,  1855,  tnat  ne  would 
remain  with  them. 

Efforts,  however,  continued  to  be  made 
by  the  Church  at  Newton  Centre,  to  induce 
Mr.  Stearns  to  accept  their  invitation. 
These  efforts  at  last  succeeded.  August  29, 
1855,  after  a  pastorate  of  about  fifteen 
months,  Mr.  Stearns  resigned  his  charge. 

Rev.  J.  L.  Hodge,  D.  D.,  was  called  to  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Church,  October  3, 
1855.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  in 
November  entered  upon  his  labors. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hodge,  many 


126  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

were  converted,  and  a  large  number  of  per- 
sons, who  from  indifference  had  lost  their 
membership  in  other  places,  having  been 
induced  to  renew  their  vows,  were  received 
by  the  Church  on  experience.  Dr.  Hodge 
resigned  November  8,  1857,  after  serving 
the  Church  just  two  years. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Walden  supplied  the  Church 
for  three  months. 

In  June,  1858,  the  present  pastor,  on  his 
way  to  fulfill  an  engagement  with  an  es- 
teemed brother  in  the  ministry  in  a  neigh- 
boring city,  was  induced  to  stop  at  Newark 
and  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  South  Church 
one  Sabbath.  He  preached  from  Col.  i.  19. 
"  That  in  all  things  He  might  have  the  pre- 
eminence." God  gave  him  such  favor  in 
the  eyes  of  the  people  that,  although  he  left 
the  city  early  the  next  morning,  measures 
were  immediately  taken  to  have  him  return 
and  preach  for  them  again.  In  July,  he 
complied  with  their  request.  This  second 
visit  resulted  in  the  Church  extending  to 
him  a  call  to  become  their  pastor. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  2  J 

It  was  not  for  some  time  after  that  the 
call  was  accepted.  The  relationship  which 
bound  him  to  his  people  in  Philadelphia 
had  been  of  fourteen  years  existence.  It 
was  his  first  and  only  pastorate.  Nearly 
the  entire  membership  had  been  baptized 
by  him,  and  only  a  high  sense  of  duty  and 
the  prospect  of  greater  usefulness,  could 
prevail  on  him  to  accept  the  call  to  the 
Church  at  Newark. 

On  the  first  of  October,  1858,  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  here.  The  Church  and 
congregation  had  become  much  discouraged 
and  weakened  by  the  frequent  changes  in 
the  pastoral  office.  But  soon  the  blessing 
of  God  attended  the  ministrations  of  his  ser- 
vant, and  frequent  additions  by  baptism, 
and  an  increase  of  attendance  on  the  means 
of  grace  imparted  hope  and  encouragement 
to  all. 

In  1859  a  large  and  elegant  organ  was 
introduced,  by  the  aid  of  which,  with  the 
change  in  the  hymn  book,  the  service  of 
song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  was  much 
improved. 


128  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

In  i860  there  were  constant  tokens  of 
the  Divine  favor,  and  conversions  were  re- 
ported every  month.  In  the  midst  of  this 
success,  however,  the  pastor  was  suddenly 
prostrated  by  an  alarming  illness,  which  laid 
him  aside  for  nearly  three  months.  In 
answer  to  the  earnest  and  loving  prayers  of 
the  Church,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  permit 
him  to  resume  his  labors  among  them. 

In  1862  the  exterior  of  the  church  edifice 
was  repaired  and  greatly  improved.  The 
front  was  faced  with  brown  stone,  which 
gave  to  it  a  substantial  and  neat  appearance. 

In  1863,  through  the  efforts  of  the  pastor 
and  the  liberality  of  the  Church  and  con- 
gregation, the  interior  of  the  sanctuary  was 
remodeled  and  beautified.  The  plans  and 
the  execution  of  the  work  are  highly  credit- 
able to  the  architect,  Mr.  David  S.  Gendell, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  to  the  decorator,  Mr. 
John  Gibson. 

During  the  winter  and  spring  of  1864 
the  Church  enjoyed  a  precious  "  season  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  29 

Sixty-eight  were  baptized  and  received  into 
fellowship. 

Again,  in  1866,  the  Lord  poured  out  His 
Holy  Spirit  and  the  Church  was  greatly 
revived.  Nearly  one  hundred  souls  were 
baptized,  and  the  membership  reached  al- 
most five  hundred,  being  the  largest,  except 
one,  of  any  Baptist  Church  in  New  Jersey. 

In  1868,  the  Pilgrim  Baptist  Church,  in 
the  Tenth  Ward,  was  organized.  This 
Church  grew  from  the  mission  planted  there 
eight  years  ago,  by  members  of  the  Fifth 
Church.  The  principal  support,  however, 
has  always  been  derived  from  the  South 
Church.  The  ground  on  which  the  chapel 
stands,  as  well  as  most  of  the  cost  of  erect- 
ing the  same,  were  liberally  donated  by  Mr. 
H.  M.  Baldwin,  of  the  South  Church, 
"  whose  praise  is  in  all  the  churches ; " 
while  nearly  the  entire  constituent  mem- 
bership went  forth  from  this  Church,  with 
its  blessings  and  its  prayers  accompanying 
them. 

According  to  the  statistics  of  the  Church, 


I30  HISTORY  OF  THE    NEWARK 

the  total  number  of  additions  has  been  as 
follows  :  Number  of  constituent  members, 
forty-five.  During  the  pastorate  of  Dr. 
Hague,  from  April,  1851,  to  November, 
1853,  three  years  and  a  half,  by  baptism, 
ninety -one  ;  by  letter,  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen ;  by  experience,  three  ;  total  number,  two 
hundred  and  eight. 

During  the  vacancy  in  the  pastoral  office, 
from  November,  1853,  to  May,  1854,  by 
baptism,  twelve ;  by  letter,  two ;  total  num- 
ber, fourteen. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Stearns,  from 
May,  1854,  to  August,  1855,  fifteen  months, 
by  baptism,  twenty-five ;  by  letter,  thirty- 
eight  ;  by  experience,  one ;  total  number, 
sixty-four. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hodge,  from 
November,  1855,  to  November,  1857,  two 
years,  by  baptism,  forty-eight;  by  letter, 
fifty;  by  experience,  sixteen;  total  num- 
ber, one  hundred  and  fourteen. 

During  the  vacancy,  from  November, 
1857,  to  October,  1858,  by  baptism,  fifteen  ; 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  \  3  \ 

by  letter,  fourteen  ;    total  number,  twenty- 
nine. 

During  the  ten  years  of  Dr.  Levy's  pas- 
torate, by  baptism,  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  ;  by  letter,  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three ;  by  experience,  thirteen;  total  num- 
ber, four  httndred  and  thirty-eight. 

The  entire  number  received  from  all 
sources  since  the  Church  was  formed,  is 
nine  hundred  and  twenty-four.  Three  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  persons  have  been  dis- 
missed by  letter,  forty-six  have  been  ex- 
cluded from  the  fellowship  of  the  Church, 
and  sixty-four  have  "  fallen  asleep." 

The  first  named,  we  may  charitably  hope, 
are  now  useful  and  consistent  members  of 
sister  churches;  the  second,  the  excluded, 
awaken  many  painful  thoughts  and  excite 
the  prayer  that  they  may,  through  the  abun- 
dant mercy  of  God,  be  restored  to  repent- 
ance and  good  works.  The  last,  those  who 
have  fallen  asleep,  lead  us  to  say,  "  Blessed 
are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord !  "  How 
precious  is  the  memory  of  Samuel  Baldwin, 


I32         NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION- 

Ann  L.  Johnston,  James  Hague,  Edwin  R. 
Parsil,  Edward  Doughty,  David  Jones,  Mary 
Jones,  Mary  Baldwin,  and  many  others  of 
whom  "  we  cannot  now  speak  particularly." 

"  With  us  their  names  shall  live 

Through  long  succeeding  years, 
Embalmed  with  all  our  hearts  can  give,  — 
Our  praises  and  our  tears." 


GROWTH    FROM    EFFORT. 

PERIOD  of  seventeen  years  has 
thus  elapsed  since  the  Newark 
Baptist  City  Mission  Board  was 
organized.  In  conlusion,  let  us 
survey  the  field  and  sum  up  the  work. 

As  before  stated,  in  December,  1851, 
several  members  of  the  First  and  South 
churches  met  for  consultation  and  resolved 
to  organize  for  the  prosecution  of  City  Mis- 
sion work. 

In  April,  1852,  the  first  missionary  em- 
ployed by  the  Board  entered  upon  his  du- 
ties. Two  places  for  worship  and  for  Sab- 
bath-school instruction  were  opened,  one  in 
the  North  and  the  other  in  the  Fifth  Ward. 
In  1853  the  first  chapel,  erected  for  the 
Mission,  was  dedicated  to  religious  worship 
in  the  North  Ward. 
9 


134  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

In  the  same  year  a  reinforcement  to  the 
working  force  of  the  Mission  was  made  by 
the  appointment  of  another  missionary,  who 
was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Ward. 

July  26,  1854,  the  North  Ward  Mission 
was  organized  into  a  Church,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  forty-nine,  composed  mostly  of 
such  persons  as  had  been  converted  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Mission. 

In  1855  the  Mission  in  the  Fifth  Ward 
was  organized  into  a  Church  with  fifty-six 
constituent  members. 

April  21,  1858,  the  new  edifice  of  the 
Fifth  Church  was  dedicated. 

In  May,  1859,  the  Fairmount  chapel  was 
purchased  by  the  Board,  and  opened  for 
worship  ;  the  pastors,  in  their  turn,  preach- 
ing every  Sabbath  afternoon.  A  Sunday- 
school  was  also  established.  October  6,  the 
Board  engaged  Rev.  C.  W.  Clark  to  labor 
here  as  a  missionary. 

January  3,  i860,  the  debt  on  the  Fifth 
Church  was  paid  through  the  efforts  of  the 
Board,  and  the  Church  henceforth  became  a 
self-supporting  body. 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  35 

June  29,  i860,  the  Fairmount  Mission  was 
organized  into  a  regular  Baptist  Church. 

February  5,  1861,  a  house  of  worship  was 
purchased  for  the  use  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist Church,  the  members  of  which  ex- 
hibited great  liberality  and  Christian  zeal  in 
the  accomplishment  of  this  long  desired 
object. 

July,  1864,  the  chapel  in  the  Tenth  Ward 
was  completed,  paid  for,  and  opened  for  the 
use  of  the  Mission.  A  German  missionary 
was  also  engaged,  who  preached  there  in  the 
morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  Hamburg 
Place,  where  a  German  mission  had  been 
established. 

About  this  time  the  Board  also  engaged 
the  services  of  a  German  colporteur. 

November,  1866,  the  Mount  Pleasant 
Mission  was  organized.  A  neat  chapel  was 
opened  for  religious  services. 

February,  1867,  Rev.  C.  E.  Wilson,  Jr., 
was  engaged  by  the  Board,  and  entered 
upon  his  work  in  the  Mount  Pleasant  field. 

May  19,  1867,  the  lecture-room  of  the 
Fairmount  Baptist  Church  was  dedicated. 


I36  HISTORY    OF    THE    NEWARK 

During  this  year  (1867)  a  missionary  was 
engaged  by  the  Board  for  the  Tenth  Ward 
Mission. 

March  8,  1868,  the  Pilgrim  Baptist 
Church  was  constituted  in  the  Tenth  Ward. 

Thus  in  seventeen  years  the  Board  have 
planted  six  missions,  employed  nine  mis- 
sionaries and  one  colporteur.  They  have 
aided  in  the  organization  of  five  churches, 
assisted  in  the  building  of  three  substan- 
tial houses  of  worship,  and  four  chapels. 
Through  the  advice  and  liberality  of  the 
same,  the  Germans  have  secured  their  house 
of  worship,  besides  a  commodious  chapel, 
and  have  the  services  of  an  efficient  mis- 
sionary. 

Through  the  direct  influence  of  these 
missions,  and  the  faithful  labors  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, one  thousand  and  fifty-four  per- 
sons have  been  baptized  and  added  to  the 
churches.  There  has  been  expended  for 
the  support  of  the  missions  twenty-nine 
thousand  four  hundred  and  eight  dollars, 
besides  the  large  outlay  in  building  church 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  37 

edifices  proper  for  the  Fifth,  the  North,  and 
Fairmount  churches,  and  much  of  the  cost 
of  the  chapels  for  other  posts,  which  has  not 
been  included  in  the  above  estimate,  and  of 
which  no  account  has  been  preserved. 

Without  the  moral  and  material  assist- 
ance thus  afforded  by  the  Board,  some  of 
these  churches  would  never  have  been  es- 
tablished ;  or  if  they  had,  their  existence 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  feeble 
and  of  brief  duration.  Without  this,  the 
church  edifices  and  chapels  which  now  dot 
the  different  sections  of  the  city,  diffusing 
light  and  love,  joy  and  gladness  throughout 
the  community,  would  never  have  been 
erected,  and  the  missionaries,  who  have 
been  preaching  the  gospel,  and  laboring  for 
the  salvation  of  souls,  would  not  have  been 
sustained.  Those  thousands  of  dollars,  so 
productive  of  good  and  great  results,  could 
not  otherwise  have  been  raised,  concen- 
trated, and  made  conducive  to  the  glory  of 
God  in  the  enlargement  of  Zion. 

While   these    results    have   been    accom- 


I38  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEWARK 

plished  through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
Board,  the  inquiry  arises,  How  has  all  this 
expenditure  of  strength  affected  the  two 
churches  that  originated  this  mission  enter- 
prise ?  Has  the  bestowment  on  others  of 
their  best  gifts,  weakened  their  own  work- 
ing force  ?  Has  the  money  which  they 
have  annually  raised  and  liberally  expended 
made  them  poorer  ?  Far  from  it.  At  the 
organization  of  the  Mission,  in  1851,  the 
two  churches,  as  we  have  seen,  had  an  ag- 
gregate membership  of  five  hundred  and 
six.  At  the  present  time,  the  membership 
of  those  two  churches  is  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  eighty-seven ;  and  in  the 
city,  about  twenty-five  hundred.  In  1851, 
their  contributions  for  benevolent  objects 
amounted,  in  the  aggregate,  to  $2,117.36. 
In  1868  the  sum  reported  was  $20,766.84. 

How  forcibly  do  the  above  facts  and  fig- 
ures illustrate  these  scriptures :  "  There  is 
that  withholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  but  it 
tendeth  to  poverty."  "  The  liberal  soul 
shall  be  made  fat ;  and  he  that  watereth  shall 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  I  39 

be  watered  also  himself."  "  Give,  and  it 
shall  be  given  unto  you,  good  measure, 
pressed  down,  and  shaken  together,  and 
running  over." 

"  Give  with  no  faltering  hand, 
Give  with  no  grudging  heart  ; 
The  cause  is  holy,  —  help  it  on, — 
You  lend  to  the  Christian's  Lord." 

The  blessed  results  of  this  enterprise  in 
the  erection  of  churches,  in  establishing 
Sabbath-schools,  in  fostering  the  grace  of 
Christian  charity,  in  the  conversion  of  souls, 
and  in  extending  Baptist  principles,  should 
encourage  the  Baptists  of  Newark  to  go 
forward  in  their  great  and  beneficent  work. 
Much  remains  to  be  done.  The  city  con- 
tains a  population  of  over  one  hundred 
thousand.  These  six  Baptist  churches  and 
three  chapels,  —  what  are  they  among  so 
many?  And  the  population  is  rapidly  in- 
creasing. The  advantageous  location  of 
the  city,  its  broad  and  beautiful  streets, 
its  well  regulated  police,  its  commodious 
dwellings,  its   proximity  to    New  York,  and 


I4O  HISTORY  OF   THE  NEWARK 

its  railroad  facilities,  are  attracting  the 
attention  of  capitalists  and  manufacturers, 
and  inviting  families  to  make  their  homes 
where  they  may  live  better  and  cheaper 
than  in  New  York.  It  is  estimated  that 
in  twenty-five  years  there  will  be,  with- 
in the  limits  of  the  city  of  Newark,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  souls.  Now  it 
will  not  do  to  wait  until  these  come.  It  is 
the  part  of  prudence  and  piety  to  make 
ready  for  their  coming.  It  would  be  no 
more  than  wise  and  provident  to  build  one 
chapel  every  year.  This  would  give  the  de- 
nomination the  advantage  of  preoccupation. 
There  need  be  no  fear  of  these  not  being 
filled.  It  is  astonishing  how  soon  houses 
of  worship  gather  congregations  from  the 
mass  of  those  who  are  non-church-goers. 
When  God  calls  ministers  to  preach  the 
gospel,  He  will  call  the  people  to  hear,  and 
when  Christians  build  houses  for  His  wor- 
ship, He  will  provide  the  means  to  fill  them. 
The  duty,  then,  is  imperative,  to  be  on 
the  watch  for  opportunities  to   extend  the 


BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION.  1 4  I 

cords  as  well  as  to  strengthen  the  stakes 
of  our  Zion.  We  are  sacredly  called  upon 
to  gird  ourselves  anew  for  the  accumulating 
work  we  find  at  our  very  doors. 

And  we  have  every  encouragment  to  be 
thus  faithful.  Our  principles  are  gaining  fa- 
vor every  year,  and  must  continue  to  do  so,  as 
the  community  advances  in  intelligence  and 
in  freedom  of  thought.  As  men  learn  to  think 
for  themselves,  to  read  the  Bible  for  them- 
selves, to  repent  of  sins  for  themselves,  to 
believe  for  themselves,  and  to  obey  Christ 
for  themselves,  they  will  seek  the  churches 
which  have  for  ages  "  resisted  even  unto 
blood  "  the  assumptions  of  civil  and  ecclesi- 
astical tyranny,  and  which,  discarding  all  the 
traditions  of  men,  and  fearlessly  braving  the 
sneers  and  misrepresentations  of  the  world, 
have  simply  and  earnestly  required  of  all 
who  may  have  sought  admission  into  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  personal  faith  and  obe- 
dience. 

Surely,  when  we  consider  what  has  already 
been  wrought  by  our  denomination,  we  are 


142  NEWARK  BAPTIST  CITY  MISSION. 

compelled  to  acknowledge  the  hand  of  God, 
and  to  believe  that  He  will  continue  to  smile 
upon  our  efforts  to  advance  His  kingdom, 
and  to  maintain  the  honor  of  His  word 
and  the  purity  of  His  ordinances. 

"  What  though  the  gates  of  hell  withstood, 
Yet  must  this  building  rise  : 
'Tis  thine  own  work,  almighty  God, 
And  wondrous  in  our  eyes." 


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